Sec Hegseth to go to Panama after Trump's calls for for canal

[ad_1] Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth is slated to satisfy with Panama leaders subsequent week amid President Donald Trump 's continued efforts to regain management of the important thing strategic and army useful resource.

The Trump administration has been outspoken about nationwide safety threats introduced by alleged Chinese language interference.

Throughout a February go to to the nation, Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in an X publish that "america can't, and won't, enable the Chinese language Communist Celebration to proceed with its efficient and rising management over the Panama Canal space."

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed on Friday the secretary of defense will attend the 2025 Central American Safety Convention, taking part in discussions that can "drive ongoing efforts to strengthen the U.S.'s partnerships with Panama and different Central American nations," in keeping with a report from the Associated Press.

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/03/343/192/2025-03-13t234431z_1782326077_rc2ocdajgtu6_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-panama-canal-scaled.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/03/686/384/2025-03-13t234431z_1782326077_rc2ocdajgtu6_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-panama-canal-scaled.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/03/672/378/2025-03-13t234431z_1782326077_rc2ocdajgtu6_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-panama-canal-scaled.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/03/1344/756/2025-03-13t234431z_1782326077_rc2ocdajgtu6_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-panama-canal-scaled.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/03/931/523/2025-03-13t234431z_1782326077_rc2ocdajgtu6_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-panama-canal-scaled.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/03/1862/1046/2025-03-13t234431z_1782326077_rc2ocdajgtu6_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-panama-canal-scaled.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/03/720/405/2025-03-13t234431z_1782326077_rc2ocdajgtu6_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-panama-canal-scaled.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/03/1440/810/2025-03-13t234431z_1782326077_rc2ocdajgtu6_rtrmadp_3_usa-trump-panama-canal-scaled.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> A cargo boat navigates on the Panama Canal subsequent to the growth undertaking of the Panama Canal on the Pacific aspect in Panama Metropolis, November 17, 2015. (Reuters)

PANAMA DENIES STATE DEPT CLAIM THAT IT IS ELIMINATING FEES FOR US GOV VESSELS USING CANAL

The president, who has criticized the six-figure premiums imposed on U.S. ships touring alongside the important waterway, beforehand instructed repurchasing the canal.

It was constructed by the U.S. over the span of a number of a long time, however was ultimately handed over to Panama throughout the Carter administration.

The "Panama Canal Repurchase Act," a invoice that was not too long ago introduced in Congress , would give Trump the authority to barter with applicable Panamanian authorities officers to reacquire the Panama Canal.

U.S. Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth attends a NATO Defence Ministers assembly on the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on Feb. 13, 2025. (Reuters/Yves Herman)

CHINA, HONG KONG THREATEN TO THWART SALE OF PANAMA CANAL PORTS TO AMERICA'S BLACKROCK

Panama President José Raúl Mulino beforehand mentioned China doesn't have affect over the canal and accused Trump of "mendacity" about doubtlessly buying it, in keeping with the AP.

BlackRock, Inc. later introduced a $23 billion take care of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchinson to take possession of the Panamanian ports of Cristobal and Balboa, together with 43 ports in 23 different international locations, Fox Information Digital beforehand reported.

Two cargo ships enter the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal in Panama Metropolis on Jan. 22. (Martin Bernetti/AFP through Getty Photographs)

The canal could possibly be used as leverage for China in U.S. tariff negotiations.

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Hegseth may also go to Eglin Air Power Base in Florida to satisfy with army members and management on the seventh Particular Forces Group, in keeping with the AP.

Fox Information' Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.

Alexandra Koch is a breaking information author for Fox Information Digital. Previous to becoming a member of Fox Information, Alexandra lined breaking information, crime, faith, and the military within the southeast.