US President Trump wants more influence on the Panama Canal. Now he has come a step closer to his goal. The United States and Panama have signed an agreement that allows US troops stationed on the canal.
It is a great concession to US President Donald Trump: US soldiers may be stationed in the vicinity of the Panama Canal in the future. According to an agreement with the Panama government, the military may carry out training and exercises there in the future and store equipment. However, they are not allowed to set up military base points. The Foreign Ministry of the Central American country announced a corresponding document.
Trump had asked for more influence on the waterway – and now got it. The US President had previously claimed to control China and threatened the channel and several times to bring the important waterway back under US control.
Agreement initially limited to three years
US defense minister Pete Hegseth traveled to Central America last Wednesday to sign the agreement. It is initially limited to three years, but can be extended.
Panama and the USA also want to negotiate a regulation in order to secure US warships a free and primary passage through the channel. The Panama Canal was built in the early 20th century by the engineering corps of the US army. At the end of 1999 the United States handed over the administration to Panama.
