Panama City, Panama – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseeth had a mission on his trip to Panama, to ensure an agreement to obtain a “first and free” passage for US ships on the Panama Canal, a critical river route for the military economy and control of the United States.
When the secretary and his team flew from Washington on Monday night to meet with the leaders of Panama, such agreement with Panama was far from safe.
Although the United States had the channel in early 1900 and kept it for decades before delivering it to Panama, China had recently invested money in attached projects and infrastructure. As a corridor between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans that handles more than 40 percent of the United States maritime trade, if China could close the channel, it would be a catastrophe for the United States
President Donald Trump, at the beginning of his administration, made resuming the Chinese influence channel is a priority. In December, just before making an office for the second time, he posted on it in Truth Social:
In February, Trump sent the Secretary of State Frame Rubio to Panama durable his first international trip, where he excessively persuaded Panama so that he did not renew his participation in Bri (The Belt and Road Initiative), a great victory for the United States.
Then, in March, a conglomerate based in Hong Kong called CK Hutchinson sold two ports along the channel to a consortium led by the Blackrock investment giant, which would put the two ports located at each end of the channel under the US operation. Then, the Chinese government launched an investigation into the agreement to delay it. Trump promoted the treatment of his joint speech to Congress.
Now, it depended on Hegseth to ensure the ships “first and free” passage through the channel.
According to all measures, the trip was a resounding success.
Hegseeth arrived Monday night. On Tuesday, the secretary with President José Raúl Mulino, the Minister of Public Security, Frank Abrego, and the Panamanian legislats, visited the Basque Naval Base Nuñez de Balboa, was previously a naval base of the United States and inaugurated a dock. Fort Sherman also visited a former base of the US Army. UU., The Jungle War School, toured the Panama Canal by helicopter and visited the Miraflores locks. Later with Abrego again, as well as regional leaders who attribute the Security Conference of Central America (CENTSEC) 2025.
On Wednesday, Hegseeth delivered opening comments at the conference, which was organized by the United States and Panama.
It was there that Hegseth announced that the United States and Panama would sign a statement that provides a framework for the United States wars and auxiliary ships to travel “first and free” through the channel in a great victory for the United States.
Hegseeth and Abbego also agreed an expanded association to ensure the channel and signed a memorandum of understanding of cooperative security activities between the armies of the United States and Panamanians, which is the increase in US troops in Panama.
Asked by Breitbart News if he had achieved everywhere on the trip, a triumphant Hegseeth replied: “This trip not only with our expectations. A warm welcome from Panama. Great association.
The trip was not only a success for the United States economically, but also geopolitical.
Although Beijing tried to pressure Panama by launching an investigation into the sale of CK Hutchison to the consortium led by Blackrock, Panama remained without flinching on his walk from China and revitalizing his ties with the United States.
The high -level defense toll reporters travel with Hegseth: “If you observe the context that counteracts the spheres of Chinese influence worldwide, this is a good example of tasks of actions of the secretary and the real team on how to align.”
“When we talk about the broader global strategy to deter China … people begin to realize that an alliance with China is not everything [is] He broke to be, “added the official.” He [Chinese Communist Party] It is very exploiter of the relationships they have and that was not only true of our time in Panama, but also the same in Japan. “
The senior defense officials also accredited Trump for creating the opportunity and confidence for countries that wish to work with the United States and leave exploitative relationships with China.
“President Trump’s words have resonated with them in terms of negotiating the reinforcement of our alliances,” said another superior defense official.
“President Trump set out to talk about Panama within his first 30 days of assuming the position … the reason we are even having this conversation in the first place is because President Trump focused on the Panama Canal, and I think he will make Doe be a Panaman buitening, but finally for our hemisulation.”
Duration in his visit, China responded angry at the perspective of greater cooperation between the United States and Panama, accusing the United States of “blackmail.”
When asked if he was worried about reprisals from China, Hegseeth replied: “No.”
“I am not worried about China’s reprisals. We will rely on our own merits. Peace through strength matters. We represent our interests, we put the United States first, President Trump is looking at them in commerce. We will also restore deterrence,” “
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