Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed U.S. plans to 'take back' the Panama Canal during a Fox News interview on April 13, 2025.
• Hegseth cited Chinese efforts to control politicians, build infrastructure, and impose surveillance as evidence of growing communist influence in Panama.
• He attributed the U.S. stance to President Trump’s earlier call to counteract Chinese influence and secure the canal for national and regional security.
• Hegseth praised Panamanian President Molina as a pro-American leader resisting what he described as communist encroachment.
• The declaration signals an intensified U.S. focus on countering China's strategic moves in Latin America, particularly in critical waterways.