The recent decision by Panama's Supreme Court to annul the port contracts held by CK Hutchison Holdings, a Hong Kong-based company, has sparked significant geopolitical tensions, particularly between China and the United States. According to Al Jazeera, the Danish shipping giant Maersk is set to replace CK Hutchison in operating the Panama Canal ports, following a court ruling that deemed the Chinese control of these strategic ports unconstitutional. This decision aligns with the U.S. strategic interests, as President Trump has expressed concerns over Chinese influence, claiming that the waterway was controlled by China. The ruling has been described as a 'victory' for the U.S. by the New York Times, as it supports Washington's efforts to curb Chinese influence over the canal, which is crucial for global maritime trade, accounting for about 5% of it, as noted by Business Recorder.