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Os portos do Canal do Panamá estão mais uma vez no centro da disputa geopolítica entre a China e os Estados Unidos. Foto: Ronan Furuta no Unsplash.


World
WORLD ----------------------------------------2093TRENDING

China e Panamá: Tensão pelo controle de portos estratégicos

Pequim exige participação majoritária nas negociações sobre terminais portuários próximos ao Canal do Panamá.

Imagine caminhar pelos cais de Balboa ou Cristóbal, onde gigantescos contêineres contam histórias de mercadorias conectando Ásia e Américas.

Agora imagine que esses mesmos cais se tornaram peças-chave em uma disputa geopolítica entre superpotências.

Essa narrativa, que poderia parecer saída de um romance de espionagem econômica, é a realidade das negociações sobre os portos panamenhos operados pela Panama Ports Company (PPC), uma subsidiária do conglomerado com sede em Hong Kong CK Hutchison.

A venda desses ativos, junto com uma rede global de 43 terminais por aproximadamente US$22,8 bilhões, tornou-se um jogo estratégico de xadrez.

O que acontece quando um país estabelece condições que podem redefinir o equilíbrio de poder na logística global? A seguir, explicaremos como a China aumentou a aposta no Panamá e o que esse conflito significa para a região e o comércio mundial.

Geopolítica na encruzilhada portuária

No início de 2025, a CK Hutchison, com sede em Hong Kong, confirmou um acordo em princípio para vender sua rede global de portos a um consórcio liderado pela empresa americana BlackRock e MSC's Terminal Investment Limited.

Isso incluía os terminais de Balboa e Cristóbal, localizados nas entradas do Canal do Panamá, uma artéria chave para o comércio mundial.

No entanto, as negociações enfrentaram um obstáculo inesperado: Pequim exigiu que a empresa estatal de transporte marítimo Cosco (China Cosco Shipping Corporation) obtivesse uma participação majoritária e direitos de veto nos portos do Canal como condição para aprovar o acordo.

Uma empresa estatal chinesa poderia controlar pontos tão sensíveis na logística global? Esse é o debate que divide Washington, Pequim e os atores regionais.

A administração dos Estados Unidos declarou que o controle chinês de ativos tão próximos ao canal interoceânico representaria um risco “inaceitável” à segurança nacional e econômica.

Rivalidade global e estratégias de influência

Na América Latina, os observadores lembram que o Canal do Panamá tem sido historicamente um ponto de conflito entre interesses globais.

Em 2024, Donald Trump chegou a afirmar que a China tinha “controle” sobre o Canal, afirmação que as autoridades panamenhas negaram, mas que reflete o risco percebido em torno dessa infraestrutura.

Nesse contexto, o argumento chinês vai além de uma simples transação comercial. Segundo The Wall Street Journal, Pequim está usando a exigência de controle majoritário como uma carta de negociação em conversas mais amplas sobre comércio e tarifas com os Estados Unidos.

Isso fez com que o processo de venda não apenas estagnasse, mas também se tornasse um ponto de observação para outros países da América Latina e do Caribe, que observam como as grandes potências disputam posições em setores estratégicos de infraestrutura.

Impactos regionais e perspectivas latino-americanas

Na América Latina, o Canal do Panamá não é apenas um corredor logístico, mas um símbolo de soberania e independência econômica.

Para muitos analistas, o debate sobre quem opera portos estratégicos reflete a nova Guerra Fria econômica entre Washington e Pequim.

A situação também reavivou debates no Panamá sobre a concessão original dos portos de Balboa e Cristóbal e os termos sob os quais uma entidade externa os administra.

Em 2025, o Controlador Geral do país chegou a solicitar à Suprema Corte a anulação do contrato original da PPC devido a irregularidades percebidas que favoreciam o concessionário, demonstrando a complexidade legal e política do assunto.

Enquanto isso, as negociações permanecem sem resolução, com múltiplos interesses econômicos, geopolíticos e de segurança entrelaçados no que pode redefinir o papel das potências mundiais na infraestrutura logística global.

By Estefanía Muriel for Ruta Pantera on 12/31/2025 5:20:20 AM

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