April 10, 2025
On Wednesday, Panama announced that the United States recognized its sovereignty over the Panama Canal, despite recent tough rhetoric from Washington. This announcement came as the two nations agreed to deepen U.S. military training in Panama.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly acknowledged Panamanian sovereignty during his visit, the first by a Pentagon chief to Panama in decades. Hegseth emphasized the strategic importance of the canal, stating that Panama and the U.S. would secure it together, excluding China.
“We are helping to reclaim the Panama Canal from communist Chinese influence,” Hegseth declared at a press briefing in Panama City.
The Panamanian government has firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that China controls the canal. However, current and former U.S. officials and experts express legitimate security concerns about China’s presence in Panama, including potential military espionage through Chinese-owned ports and infrastructure.
During Hegseth’s visit, the U.S. and Panama issued joint statements on enhancing security cooperation. Notably, the Pentagon’s English-language version omitted a sentence from Panama’s Spanish-language version, which affirmed Panama’s sovereignty over the canal. The omitted sentence read: “Secretary Hegseth recognized Panama’s leadership and inalienable sovereignty over the Panama Canal and its adjacent areas.”
Before departing for Washington, Hegseth reiterated respect for Panamanian sovereignty and the canal. He expressed gratitude for Panama’s invitation to U.S. troops for rotational, joint exercises.
Panama’s Minister for Public Security, Frank Abrego, clarified that Panama would not permit permanent military bases. “Secretary Hegseth, in our private meeting, acknowledged Panama’s sovereignty over the Panama Canal,” Abrego told reporters.
The Panama Canal is crucial for U.S. container traffic, with over 40% of U.S. goods, valued at approximately $270 billion annually, passing through it. This accounts for more than two-thirds of daily vessel traffic through the world’s second-busiest interoceanic waterway.
Hegseth’s visit followed reports that the Trump administration had requested military options to ensure access to the canal, which the U.S. built over a century ago and handed over to Panama in 1999. Trump has criticized the handover as a bad deal for the U.S.
While Hegseth focused on collaborating with Panama to counter Chinese influence, Trump has spoken more broadly, not ruling out military force. A U.S. defense official, speaking anonymously, acknowledged Panama’s sensitivities regarding its sovereignty. “Any perceived infringement on their sovereignty, whether by the U.S. or China, is highly problematic,” the official said.
Current and former U.S. officials and experts note that the U.S. has found a willing partner in Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino, who met with Hegseth on Tuesday. In February, Mulino announced Panama’s exit from China’s Belt and Road Initiative and supported Trump’s migrant crackdown.
Hegseth praised Mulino’s government for understanding the threat from China. “We are deeply grateful for the friendship of our Panamanian counterparts, your partnership, and your leadership here in Panama and across the region,” Hegseth said.
Source: (Reuters)
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