The United States wants to negotiate free use of the Panama Canal for US warships – apparently in return for military security services. US defense minister Hegseth recognized the sovereignty of Panama.
The US government and Panama want to secure US warships a free and priority passage through the Panama Canal. Both governments would work out a corresponding regulation, announced US defense minister Pete Hegseth in Panama City.
According to the Panamaic Minister of Channel Affairs, José Ramón Icaza, the United States would compensate for the default fees, for example. “We will look for a mechanism,” said Icaza. It is not about the decree of the fees. The United States would compensate for it through consideration.
Contractually, the Central American country is not allowed to grant individual states special rights in the passage of the important waterway between the Atlantic and the Pacific. US President Donald Trump has been claiming the Panama Canal since taking office. The Republican threatened to get the channel back for the United States.
Hegseth speaks of cooperation with Panama
In Panama, Hegseth avoided speaking of one -sided measures by the United States. “When President Trump says that we will bring the Panama channel back from the Chinese influence, it means a partnership between the United States and Panama,” said Hegseth at a press conference with Panama's Security Minister Frank Ábrego.
When asked by a journalist as to whether the United States recognized Panama's sovereignty over the channel, Hegseth replied: “The Panama Canal is in Panama, and it is important to protect the panamaic sovereignty from malicious influence”.
According to the AFP news agency, however, Ábrego rejected a proposal in Hegseth that the USA could “revive” military bases or naval flight spaces and US troops: “Panama (José Raúl) has made it clear that we cannot accept military base or defense systems,” said Ábrego.
Exit from “New Silk Road”
According to Trump, China has a great impact on the waterway. Panama rejected the claim of a Chinese control of the canal.
At the beginning of February, the Latin American country announced its withdrawal from the Chinese infrastructure program “Neue Seidenstrasse”. President José Raúl Mulino announced the decision shortly after a visit to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. His country hardly benefited from the “New Silk Road” project, said Mulino.
The canal was built by the engineering corps of the US army at the beginning of the 20th century. On December 31, 1999, the United States handed over the administration to Panama.
