U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in an interview with Fox News that China is trying to control the Panama Canal through infrastructure projects and political pressure.
“China wants to control politicians. They want to take over the channel. President Trump said if we don’t intervene, we will fight back,” the Pentagon chief said.
Hegseth also said that the United States was “negligent” under former President Biden’s administration, but now this situation will change.
On January 20, Trump expressed his intention to gain control of the Panama Canal in his inaugural speech . On February 2, US Secretary of State Rubio visited Panama and told Panamanian President Mulino that Trump was unwilling to maintain the status quo as China’s influence on Panama seemed to be increasing. Mulino then said that the Panamanian government would no longer renew the memorandum of understanding on jointly building the “Belt and Road” with China.
On April 10, Trump announced that the U.S. military had been deployed to Panama. Hegseth stressed that one of the U.S.’s top priorities is to ensure free and safe passage through the Panama Canal.
