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4w ago

U.S. Defense Secretary Prepares for Key Panama Visit as Canal Tensions Mount

Pete Hegseth's upcoming trip aims to bolster regional security ties following Trump's call to reclaim the Panama Canal.

A U.S. Coast Guard ship docks in a naval base along the Panama Canal in Panama City, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A U.S. Coast Guard ship docks at a naval base along the Panama Canal in Panama City, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A cargo ship sails past the Panama Canal's Port of Balboa, managed by CK Hutchison Holdings, in Panama City, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Pete Hegseth, US secretary of defense, attends a joint news conference with Gen Nakatani, Japan's defense minister, not photographed, at the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Kiyoshi Ota/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Overview

  • Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will travel to Panama next week to attend the 2025 Central American Security Conference and meet with Panamanian leaders.
  • The visit follows President Trump's controversial statements advocating for U.S. reclamation of the Panama Canal, citing high fees and alleged Chinese influence.
  • Panama's President José Raúl Mulino has strongly rejected Trump's claims, reaffirming Panama's sovereignty over the canal and denying any Chinese control.
  • A Hong Kong-based conglomerate recently agreed to sell its stakes in ports near the canal to a U.S.-led consortium, including BlackRock, pending Panamanian approval.
  • The trip underscores U.S. efforts to strengthen partnerships in Central America and address concerns about regional security and strategic influence.