Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth on Tuesday stated the U.S. will take again the Panama Canal from “China’s affect” as Washington tries to reassert management over the key commerce route.
“The US of America won’t enable communist China or every other nation to threaten the canal’s operation or integrity,” he stated throughout a press occasion from the Central American nation. “To this finish, the US and Panama have completed extra in current weeks to strengthen our protection and safety cooperation than we’ve in many years.
“Collectively we are going to take again the Panama Canal from China’s affect,” he added.
Panama Safety Minister Frank Abrego hosts Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth on the Presidential Palace in Panama Metropolis, Panama on April 8, 2025. (Daniel A. Gonzalez/Anadolu through Getty Photographs)
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Panama has repeatedly rejected the Trump administration’s claims that China successfully controls the canal because it operates two main ports on both finish of the waterway.
Nonetheless, the Central American nation withdrew from its 2017 Belt and Street Initiative agreements with Beijing earlier this 12 months in a sign that Panama has chosen to aspect with the Trump administration on this geopolitical spat.
Hegseth laid out a litany of joint workouts, operations and the overall presence of the U.S. navy in and across the canal in a transfer to counter China, although Fox Information Digital couldn’t instantly attain the Pentagon to verify whether or not this signified a rise in U.S. presence within the area.
A demonstrator shouts slogans subsequent to riot police throughout a protest towards the go to of Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth in Panama Metropolis, on April 8, 2025. (Martin Bernetti/AFP through Getty Photographs)
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“Our relationship with Panama, particularly our safety relationship, will proceed to develop within the months and years forward,” Hegseth stated. “Our relationship is rising partly to satisfy communist China’s rising challenges.”
The protection secretary stated China-based companies proceed to put in “important infrastructure” within the canal, which provides China the “potential” skill to “conduct surveillance.”
Two cargo ships sail on Gatun Lake close to the Agua Clara Locks of the Panama Canal in Colon Metropolis, Panama, on Dec. 28, 2024. (Arnulfo Franco/AFP through Getty Photographs)
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“This makes Panama and the US much less safe, much less affluent, much less sovereign,” he added.
“I need to be very clear. China didn’t construct this canal. China doesn’t function this canal, and China won’t weaponize this canal,” Hegseth stated.
The Chinese language embassy in D.C. didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.
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