US, Panama ‘taking back’ canal from ‘China's influence,’ says Hegseth

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth connected Tuesday said the U.S. volition instrumentality backmost the Panama Canal from "China’s influence" arsenic Washington tries to reassert power implicit the large commercialized route. 

"The United States of America volition not let communist China oregon immoderate different state to endanger the canal's cognition oregon integrity," helium said during a property lawsuit from the Central American nation. "To this end, the United States and Panama person done much successful caller weeks to fortify our defence and information practice than we person successful decades.

"Together we volition instrumentality backmost the Panama Canal from China's influence," helium added.

Panama Security Minister Frank Abrego hosts Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth astatine the Presidential Palace successful Panama City, Panama connected April 8, 2025. (Daniel A. Gonzalez/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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Panama has repeatedly rejected the Trump administration’s claims that China efficaciously controls the canal arsenic it operates 2 large ports connected either extremity of the waterway. 

However, the Central American federation withdrew from its 2017 Belt and Road Initiative agreements with Beijing earlier this twelvemonth successful a awesome that Panama has chosen to broadside with the Trump medication successful this geopolitical spat.

Hegseth laid retired a litany of associated exercises, operations and the wide beingness of the U.S. subject successful and astir the canal successful a determination to antagonistic China, though Fox News Digital could not instantly scope the Pentagon to corroborate whether this signified an summation successful U.S. beingness successful the region.

A demonstrator shouts slogans adjacent to riot constabulary during a protestation against the sojourn of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth successful Panama City, connected April 8, 2025. (Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images)

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"Our narration with Panama, particularly our information relationship, volition proceed to turn successful the months and years ahead," Hegseth said. "Our narration is increasing successful portion to conscionable communist China's rising challenges."

The defence caput said China-based companies proceed to instal "critical infrastructure" successful the canal, which gives China the "potential" quality to "conduct surveillance."

Two cargo ships sail connected Gatun Lake adjacent the Agua Clara Locks of the Panama Canal successful Colon City, Panama, connected Dec. 28, 2024. (Arnulfo Franco/AFP via Getty Images)

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"This makes Panama and the United States little secure, little prosperous, little sovereign," helium added.  

"I privation to beryllium precise clear. China did not physique this canal. China does not run this canal, and China volition not weaponize this canal," Hegseth said.

The Chinese embassy successful D.C. did not instantly respond to Fox News Digital's petition for comment.