Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to meet with Panama leaders next week Donald TrumpContinue to work to regain control of key strategic and military resources.
The Trump administration is outspoken about the national security threat posed by so-called Chinese intervention.
When visiting the country in February, Secretary of State Marco Rubio “The United States cannot and will not allow the Chinese Communist Party to continue its effective and growing control over the Panama Canal region,” wrote in a post X.
Pentagon Chiefs spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed Friday Minister of Defense According to the report Associated Press.
On November 17, 2015, a cargo ship sailed next to the Panama Canal. (Reuters)
Panama denies state ministry claims it is using canal to cancel costs for U.S. government ships
The president criticized the six-figure premium imposed on U.S. ships traveling along important waterways, after proposing to buy back the canal.
It was built by the United States for decades, but was eventually handed over to Panama during the Carter administration.
Panama Canal Buyback Act, recently a bill Introduced in Congresswill give Trump the power to negotiate with appropriate Panamanian government officials to reconquer the Panama Canal.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attended the NATO Defense Ministers’ Meeting on February 13, 2025 at the Alliance Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. (Reuters/Yves Hermann)
China, Hong Kong threatens to stop the sale of Panama Canal port to US BlackRock
Panama President Jose Raul Murino According to the Associated Press, China has no effect on the canal and accused Trump of “lying” possible gains it.
Fox News Digital previously reported that Blackrock, Inc., then announced a $23 billion deal with Hong Kong-based CK Hutchinson to take ownership of Panamanian Cristobal and Balboa, as well as 43 ports in 23 other countries.
Two cargo ships entered the Miraflores lock in the Panama city of Panama on January 22. (Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images)
In U.S. tariff negotiations, the canal can be used as leverage for China.
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Heggs will also visit Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to join military members and leaders of the Seventh Special Forces Group, according to the Associated Press.
Fox News’s Morgan Phillips contributed to the report.
