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On February 12, 2026, Panama's Supreme Court upheld a January ruling declaring the concession held by Hong Kong's CK Hutchison subsidiary to operate the Panama Canal's Balboa and Cristóbal ports unconstitutional. The decision halts Chinese management of these strategic terminals, temporarily transferring operations to Denmark's A.P. Moller-Maersk amid ongoing legal disputes and geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China.
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Panama's government has taken control of two ports at the Panama Canal's entrance after a Supreme Court ruling canceled CK Hutchison's operating contracts. The move follows legal and geopolitical tensions involving the US, China, and Panama, with the ports now under state management pending long-term arrangements. The raid was unrelated to the dispute over canal deals.
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Panama has taken control of the Balboa and Cristobal ports from a Chinese-operated company following a court ruling that declared the concession unconstitutional. The move has heightened US-China tensions, with the US warning of security risks linked to Chinese influence near the Panama Canal. Investigations into the ports are ongoing.
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A fuel truck explosion on Panama's Bridge of the Americas caused a fireball, injuring two firefighters and killing one worker. The bridge, over 60 years old, is closed pending safety assessments. Authorities warn structural damage may have occurred, affecting a key transportation link.