Link to article: https://latinamericanpost.com/life/panamas-rising-seas-displace-hope-seeking-indigenous-islanders/
On Gardi Sugdub, Indigenous people flee the place they call home, a Caribbean island located near Panama’s northern shoreline for mainland. Last year, the Panamanian government announced they would begin relocating citizens of Gardi Sughub, as studies showed the island could be submerged by 2050 due to rising sea levels. Inhabitants of the land struggle to leave, as they see the ocean as a part of their identity- even when given the opportunity to live in a much nicer home. Unfortunately, residents did not have much choice in the relocation, and feedback is still mixed as to whether the relocation process was successful or not.
This article demonstrates how climate change affects people whether they choose to believe in it or not. It shows that Panama is a country that faces hardship, and they can act when given challenges. This article is especially interesting in the context of the US discussing taking over Panama, and Panama’s response to that sentiment. Even though this incident is small and about rising sea levels, I think it gives an image of what Panama’s government is like. I see that they aren’t going to sit and take it if the US tries to take them over because of their ability to help their citizens when they need it. Essentially, Panama actually does have resources and could possibly use them to help remain in control of themself.
Panama is geographically a very strategic country for the US to gain. It houses the Panama canal, a major trade route for the whole entire world. If the United States had control of the Panama Canal, they could control lots of trade between countries throughout the globe. This is geopolitics. The geopolitical theory you would associate with this issue is Rimland Theory – control of the oceans leads to max control. The people of Gardi Sugdub recognized this, as they struggled to leave their home. America utilizes this theory by trying to gain Panama and control the oceans and/or trade routes.