The US will withdraw the Panama Canal, which will eliminate China’s influence in one of the most important waterways in the world, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said today after a rare visit to the Central American nation.
Marking the first visit by the US Defense Secretary for Panama in decades, Mr. Hegseth held a closed door meeting with Panaman President Jose Raul Mulino. He also found a close-up look of the canal as Washington reiterated his deep concern over China’s investment and participation in important waterways connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
After talks with the Panama government, the head of the Pentagon vowed to deepen the security cooperation of the US Army with the Panamanian forces. China, he said, the canal will not be allowed to “make weapons”, “he said, using commercial relations of Chinese firms under one cover.
“Together, we (Panama and America) will withdraw the Panama Canal under the influence of China,” said in Panama City. Given Donald Trump’s hard rhetoric, the bets were high for Secretary Hegseth’s visit.
The new system with Panama, first after 1999, will effectively eliminate China’s influence in the Panama Canal, he suggested. He said, “China did not build this canal. China does not operate this canal and China will not make this canal weapon. Together with Panama, we will protect the canal and be available to all countries,” he said.
The head of the Pentagon also praised President Mulino, saying that his government considered “a threat to China”. His comment in Panama’s “lead” appeared to be a sign for Panamanian sensitivity when the canal safety concerns addressed.
While Secretary Hegseth talked about removing the Chinese influence from Panama, President Trump spoke widely and did not dismiss using military force if necessary. Even before Mr. Hegseth arrived in Panama, the Trump administration had allegedly requested the US Army to ensure access to the Panama Canal.
The United States built the Panama Canal more than a century ago and handed over its entire operation to Panama in 1999. Today’s development has changed that the dynamic canal is likely to patrol and access the canal with the US Army, and in coordination with Panama’s security agencies.
According to the Reuters of the news agency, several current and former US authorities and strategic experts say the United States has found an interested partner in dealing with Chinese effects in Panaman President Jose Raul Mulino.
In February, President Mulino announced Panama’s formal step to get out of China’s belt and road initiative. He has supported the rift of Donald Trump on migrants in the United States. He did this by accepting us the exile flights of non-priests and worked to curb the migration from South America by those who illegally crossed their country’s dangerous Darren Jungle.
In an important step last month, the US firm Blackrock made a deal to buy the ports of ports of $ 22.8 billion of Hong Kong Congress Hachisan, including its ports at both ends of the Panama Canal. At that time, President Trump celebrated the deal, saying that the purchase was an example of how the United States was “rebuilding the Panama Canal”.
However, China slammed the deal. The market regulator has said that it will review a mistrust of the deal.
Military experts have reported that in the event of a war in Asia, the Panama Canal plays an important role as the US naval ship crosses to support war efforts from Atlantic to Pacific. With the huge presence of China in and around the canal, it can obstruct the passage of ships, he said, even though Beijing will not be able to stop the US Navy ships in such a scenario, it will be in a profitable position that will be able to survey ships passing through it.
