At a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed that the United States has sent troops to Panama with the goal of “taking back the canal.”
“China’s had too much influence”, explained the Pentagon leader, who recently visited Panamanian leader José Raúl Mulino, “Obama and others let them creep in. We, along with Panama, are pushing them out. We had a very successful trip. Their president, Jose Raul Mulino, sends his regards — very complimentary of the U.S. — he’s a great ally. They want the communist Chinese out, and our troops are partnering with their forces. We’ve got a chance to push them all the way out”.
“We’ve moved a lot of troops to Panama and filled up some areas”, Trump added, “I think it’s in very good control.”
On Wednesday, the Panamanian government said the United States recognized its sovereignty over the canal, a crucial hub of world trade. Both nations also announced agreements to deepen U.S. military training in the Central American nation.
At his recent meeting with Mulino, Hegseth had explained: “China-based companies continue to control critical infrastructure in the canal area. That gives China the potential to conduct surveillance activities across Panama. This makes Panama and the United States less secure, less prosperous and less sovereign. And as President Donald Trump has pointed out, that situation is not acceptable.”
For their part, Panamanian officials in recent months have consistently rejected the U.S. leader’s allegations that the channel is controlled by Beijing. At the same time, however, local officials have effectively explained that the Chinese government could use company-owned infrastructure for military espionage activities.
“We certainly respect the sovereignty of the Panamanians and the Panama Canal”, concluded Hegseth, who also thanked the Mulino government for welcoming the U.S. military onto its soil for joint exercises.
