Latest news with #CanalAuthority
Fox News
10-04-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth touts 'historic' deals to deter 'Chinese influence' in Panama Canal
The Trump administration announced major moves in the Panama Canal this week, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth explaining Thursday that the deals are a means of serving American interests and working to "stop the sphere of Chinese influence." The Panama Canal Authority confirmed in a press release Wednesday that Panama's minister for canal affairs and Hegseth signed a joint declaration that reaffirms Panamanian sovereignty and outlines new military cooperation. "We're going to invest in ways that serve American interests in our backyard as we stop the sphere of Chinese influence," Hegseth said Thursday on "The Will Cain Show." The deal "reaffirms respect for, and the recognition of, Panamanian sovereignty over the interoceanic waterway," the Canal Authority stated. It upholds both nations' commitment to the Neutrality Treaty and the legal framework that governs canal operations, including Panama's Constitution, the treaty itself and the Canal's Organic Law. The declaration laid out plans for a cost-sharing model to cover services provided to U.S. warships and auxiliary vessels, with the goal of keeping it "cost-neutral." "It's in our direct U.S. interest to ensure that waterway is free and that our ships can transit freely. So, it was two historic arrangements that serve American interests, and it would never have happened without President Trump," Hegseth said. Hegseth said a broader framework is in the works, one that would guarantee U.S. warships "first and free" passage through the Panama Canal. He announced Wednesday that U.S. and Panamanian officials had already signed a memorandum of understanding, and that a final document is on the way to formally secure toll-free priority for American naval vessels. The defense secretary added on "The Will Cain Show" that the deal "codifies first, and it codifies a cost-neutral basis where we're able to freely transit, and it saves our Treasury money," noting the arrangement has an "economic upside" on top of the "strategic" interests. Earlier this week, Hegseth visited U.S. troops, met with Panamanian officials and toured the canal. He warned that China's reach in the Western Hemisphere is already too big, and still growing. "What I saw down in Panama was not just about a canal," Hegseth told Fox News host Will Cain. "Of course, the canal is very important and everything that goes through there. It was a tug-of-war with the communist Chinese." The administration's arrangements with Panama come amid rising temperatures between the United States and China, largely spurred on by an escalating trade war. As of Thursday, the White House said it had imposed 145% in new tariffs on China, up from the 125% Trump announced the day before. While hiking rates on China, Trump said he would reduce tariffs on other countries that did not retaliate against the United States to his baseline of 10%. The tariff tit-for-tat has been ongoing since Trump announced his "Liberation Day" tariffs last week, but Hegseth said the trade war does not have to "lead to conflict, and I really hope it doesn't." "President Trump has a great relationship with Xi Jinping. They speak often. There's a mutual respect, and I think, ultimately, what President Trump wants to do is reestablish American manufacturing and not be taken advantage of," Hegseth said.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Panama and US lock in new security pact for Canal as China tensions simmer
The United States and Panama have officially signed a new defense and security pact aimed at reinforcing control over the Panama Canal, a move that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claims is critical to pushing back against China's growing grip in the region. In a press release posted Wednesday night on X, the Panama Canal Authority confirmed that Panama's Minister for Canal Affairs and Hegseth signed a joint declaration that reaffirms Panamanian sovereignty and outlines new military cooperation. The deal "reaffirms respect for, and the recognition of, Panamanian sovereignty over the interoceanic waterway," the Canal Authority stated. It also upholds both nations' commitment to the Neutrality Treaty and the legal framework that governs canal operations, including Panama's Constitution, the treaty itself, and the Canal's Organic Law.Hegseth Says Panama Agreed To Allow Us Warships To Travel 'First And Free' Through Canal But the declaration goes beyond words. It lays out plans for a cost-sharing model to cover services provided to U.S. warships and auxiliary vessels, with the goal of keeping it "cost-neutral." "Efforts will be made [to] develop a mechanism which will allow compensation for services provided to warships and auxiliary vessels, seeking a cost-neutral basis," the statement reads. "This mechanism will be evaluated jointly with the Ministry of Security of Panama." According to Hegseth, a broader framework is also in the works, one that would guarantee U.S. warships "first and free" passage through the Panama Canal. Read On The Fox News App Hegseth announced Wednesday that U.S. and Panamanian officials had already signed a memorandum of understanding, and that a final document is on the way to formally secure toll-free priority for American naval vessels. The Canal Authority, meanwhile, emphasized that this agreement is just the start. "The declaration constitutes a first step in establishing this model, which will be developed in later stages." Us, Panama 'Taking Back' Canal From 'China's Influence,' Says Hegseth While the U.S. builds up its military coordination, the Panama Canal Authority confirmed that collaboration already includes "engineering, security, and cybersecurity," key focus areas for both governments as they push back against foreign interference. The move comes just as the U.S. prepares to deploy the USNS Comfort, a Navy hospital ship, to the region in a show of presence and partnership. Earlier this week, Hegseth visited U.S. troops, met with Panamanian officials, and toured the canal. He warned sharply that China's reach in the Western Hemisphere is already too big, and still growing. "Make no mistake, Beijing is investing and operating in this region for military advantage and unfair economic gain," Hegseth said. "They operate military facilities and ground stations that extend their reach into space. They exploit natural resources and land to fuel China's global military ambitions. China's factory fishing fleets are stealing food from our nations and from our people." Hegseth stressed that war is not the objective. "Together, we must prevent war by robustly and vigorously deterring China's threats in this hemisphere," he said. He also made clear that the U.S. is taking steps to counter Chinese-controlled infrastructure in Panama. "China-based companies continue to control critical infrastructure in the canal area," Hegseth said. "That gives China the potential to conduct surveillance activities across Panama. This makes Panama and the United States less secure, less prosperous and less sovereign. And as President Donald Trump has pointed out, that situation is not acceptable." Hegseth was blunt: "The United States will not allow China to threaten the canal's operation." He added, "To this end, the United States and Panama have done more in recent weeks to strengthen our defense and security cooperation than we have in decades." Despite the growing military and political coordination, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has publicly denied that China controls the canal. Hegseth did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for News' Morgan Philips contributed to this article source: Panama and US lock in new security pact for Canal as China tensions simmer
Fox News
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Panama and US lock in new security pact for Canal as China tensions simmer
The United States and Panama have officially signed a new defense and security pact aimed at reinforcing control over the Panama Canal, a move that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claims is critical to pushing back against China's growing grip in the region. In a press release posted Wednesday night on X, the Panama Canal Authority confirmed that Panama's Minister for Canal Affairs and Hegseth signed a joint declaration that reaffirms Panamanian sovereignty and outlines new military cooperation. The deal "reaffirms respect for, and the recognition of, Panamanian sovereignty over the interoceanic waterway," the Canal Authority stated. It also upholds both nations' commitment to the Neutrality Treaty and the legal framework that governs canal operations, including Panama's Constitution, the treaty itself, and the Canal's Organic Law.HEGSETH SAYS PANAMA AGREED TO ALLOW US WARSHIPS TO TRAVEL 'FIRST AND FREE' THROUGH CANAL But the declaration goes beyond words. It lays out plans for a cost-sharing model to cover services provided to U.S. warships and auxiliary vessels, with the goal of keeping it "cost-neutral." "Efforts will be made [to] develop a mechanism which will allow compensation for services provided to warships and auxiliary vessels, seeking a cost-neutral basis," the statement reads. "This mechanism will be evaluated jointly with the Ministry of Security of Panama." According to Hegseth, a broader framework is also in the works, one that would guarantee U.S. warships "first and free" passage through the Panama Canal. Hegseth announced Wednesday that U.S. and Panamanian officials had already signed a memorandum of understanding, and that a final document is on the way to formally secure toll-free priority for American naval vessels. The Canal Authority, meanwhile, emphasized that this agreement is just the start. "The declaration constitutes a first step in establishing this model, which will be developed in later stages." While the U.S. builds up its military coordination, the Panama Canal Authority confirmed that collaboration already includes "engineering, security, and cybersecurity," key focus areas for both governments as they push back against foreign interference. The move comes just as the U.S. prepares to deploy the USNS Comfort, a Navy hospital ship, to the region in a show of presence and partnership. Earlier this week, Hegseth visited U.S. troops, met with Panamanian officials, and toured the canal. He warned sharply that China's reach in the Western Hemisphere is already too big, and still growing. "Make no mistake, Beijing is investing and operating in this region for military advantage and unfair economic gain," Hegseth said. "They operate military facilities and ground stations that extend their reach into space. They exploit natural resources and land to fuel China's global military ambitions. China's factory fishing fleets are stealing food from our nations and from our people." Hegseth stressed that war is not the objective. "Together, we must prevent war by robustly and vigorously deterring China's threats in this hemisphere," he said. He also made clear that the U.S. is taking steps to counter Chinese-controlled infrastructure in Panama. "China-based companies continue to control critical infrastructure in the canal area," Hegseth said. "That gives China the potential to conduct surveillance activities across Panama. This makes Panama and the United States less secure, less prosperous and less sovereign. And as President Donald Trump has pointed out, that situation is not acceptable." Hegseth was blunt: "The United States will not allow China to threaten the canal's operation." He added, "To this end, the United States and Panama have done more in recent weeks to strengthen our defense and security cooperation than we have in decades." Despite the growing military and political coordination, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has publicly denied that China controls the canal. "I completely reject that statement," Mulino said, pushing back on earlier claims from the U.S. State Department that a deal had already been reached guaranteeing toll-free passage for U.S. warships. The Canal Authority added that it has "not made any adjustments" to its fee HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - Panama will not give in to Trump's canal threats
President Trump's escalating rhetoric over the Panama Canal has transformed diplomatic tensions into a full-blown crisis. Trump's assertion during his March 5 congressional address that 'to further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we've already started doing it,' represents the culmination of two months of increasingly provocative rhetoric that has sent tremors through Panama's government and across the international landscape. Trump has methodically intensified his claims since his second term began. Panama's response has been strategically sophisticated. Amb. Eloy Alfaro formally invoked UN Charter Article 2(4) prohibiting 'threats against territorial integrity,' while Vice Minister Carlos Guevara Mann marshaled multilateral support through the Organization of American States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's hastily arranged Panama City visit in January has only deepened the diplomatic clash, particularly after contradictory statements emerged within hours of his departure. The State Department's unilateral declaration that 'U.S. government vessels can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees' prompted an immediate, authoritative rebuke from the Canal Authority, which confirmed it had 'not made any adjustments' to its toll structure. This stance is striking given the relatively modest $25.4 million in U.S. military transit fees over the last 25 years. Far from calming the waters, Rubio's visit crystallized the fundamental disconnect between American expectations and Panamanian autonomy. Following Trump's congressional address, President José Raúl Mulino issued an even more forceful rebuke on social media: 'President Trump lies again. The Panama Canal is not in the process of being recovered and this was never even discussed in our conversations with Secretary Rubio or with anyone else,' Mulino declared. He rejected 'on behalf of Panama and Panamanians this new affront to the truth and to our dignity as a nation.' The crisis intensified when NBC News reported that the 'White House has directed the U.S. military to draw up options to increase the American troop presence in Panama,' including the Southern Command — a development Panamanian officials categorically deny authorizing or accepting. These tensions resurrect unresolved legacies of America's military footprint in Panama. There are 3,500 acres across 14 abandoned shooting ranges that remain deadly monuments to the former U.S. presence. On San José Island, pristine beaches conceal World War II-era chemical weapons that render large portions uninhabitable. Despite provisions requiring removal of 'all hazards to human life,' countless unexploded munitions remain embedded in Panamanian soil. Until 1997, the U.S. Southern Command maintained its headquarters at Quarry Heights in Panama, coordinating American military operations throughout Latin America from a strategic hilltop overlooking the canal's Pacific entrance. In a poignant twist of historical symmetry, this commanding facility — where American generals once orchestrated regional military strategy — later housed Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs until 2004. The very rooms that witnessed decades of American military planning became, for critical years, the nerve center of Panamanian sovereignty. This architectural transformation from command post to diplomatic headquarters perfectly encapsulates Panama's journey from occupied territory to sovereign nation. The School of the Americas, which operated in Panama until 1984 before relocating to Fort Benning, trained officers who later led Latin America's most repressive regimes, including Manuel Noriega, Leopoldo Galtieri and Hugo Banzer — figures associated with torture, disappearances and mass killings. The legal framework governing relations rests on the 1977 treaties negotiated under President Jimmy Carter and Gen. Omar Torrijos. The Panama Canal Treaty mandated complete American withdrawal by December 31, 1999, while the companion Neutrality Treaty established permanent canal neutrality. Article five explicitly states that 'only the Republic of Panama shall operate the Canal and maintain military forces within its national territory.' What prevents unilateral reinterpretation? The foundational principle 'pacta sunt servanda' — treaties must be kept — enshrined in the Vienna Convention. Though amendment one of the neutrality treaty permits both countries to defend the canal from neutrality threats, it explicitly prohibits 'intervention in Panama's internal affairs.' Trump's claims about Chinese control collapse under scrutiny. BlackRock's recent announcement of its acquisition of Panama Ports Company — transferring container terminals from Hong Kong-based Hutchison to American ownership — directly contradicts allegations of Chinese dominion. More importantly, these terminals remain entirely separate from canal operations, which are exclusively managed by Panama's constitutionally established Canal Authority. American military presence on Panamanian ground evokes not security but painful memories of intervention for many Panamanians. Panama's transfer of the canal fulfilled decades of struggle for territorial integrity. Increased U.S. military presence would inevitably undermine this hard-won sovereignty. Trump's approach stands in stark contrast to that of President Carter, who stated that the canal treated 'mark the commitment of the United States to the belief that fairness, and not force, should lie at the heart of our dealings with the nations of the world.' The international community watches closely. Colombia and Mexico, among other nations, have expressed solidarity with Panama, while several European countries have urged restraint and respect for existing treaties. The canal waters flow peacefully today, as they have since Panama assumed control. But beneath this tranquility lies a double irony: American chemical weapons remain buried in Panamanian soil, while American strategists contemplate new deployments to 'protect' a waterway already efficiently secured by its rightful owners. Panama stands at a sovereignty crossroads. One path leads to resistance against unilateral treaty reinterpretation; another to acquiescence to intervention justified by manufactured security concerns. A third way beckons — where the U.S. fulfills its environmental obligations while respecting Panama's exclusive jurisdiction over the canal that symbolizes its independence. The ultimate test will not be found in speeches or communiqués, but in whether Washington honors both the letter and the spirit of its commitments — or chooses to write a shameful new chapter in intervention. Nivia Rossana Castrellón is the former deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Panama. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
19-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Panama will not give in to Trump's canal threats
President Trump's escalating rhetoric over the Panama Canal has transformed diplomatic tensions into a full-blown crisis. Trump's assertion during his March 5 congressional address that 'to further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we've already started doing it,' represents the culmination of two months of increasingly provocative rhetoric that has sent tremors through Panama's government and across the international landscape. Trump has methodically intensified his claims since his second term began. Panama's response has been strategically sophisticated. Amb. Eloy Alfaro formally invoked UN Charter Article 2(4) prohibiting 'threats against territorial integrity,' while Vice Minister Carlos Guevara Mann marshaled multilateral support through the Organization of American States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's hastily arranged Panama City visit in January has only deepened the diplomatic clash, particularly after contradictory statements emerged within hours of his departure. The State Department's unilateral declaration that 'U.S. government vessels can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees' prompted an immediate, authoritative rebuke from the Canal Authority, which confirmed it had 'not made any adjustments' to its toll structure. This stance is striking given the relatively modest $25.4 million in U.S. military transit fees over the last 25 years. Far from calming the waters, Rubio's visit crystallized the fundamental disconnect between American expectations and Panamanian autonomy. Following Trump's congressional address, President José Raúl Mulino issued an even more forceful rebuke on social media: 'President Trump lies again. The Panama Canal is not in the process of being recovered and this was never even discussed in our conversations with Secretary Rubio or with anyone else,' Mulino declared. He rejected 'on behalf of Panama and Panamanians this new affront to the truth and to our dignity as a nation.' The crisis intensified when NBC News reported that the 'White House has directed the U.S. military to draw up options to increase the American troop presence in Panama,' including the Southern Command — a development Panamanian officials categorically deny authorizing or accepting. These tensions resurrect unresolved legacies of America's military footprint in Panama. There are 3,500 acres across 14 abandoned shooting ranges that remain deadly monuments to the former U.S. presence. On San José Island, pristine beaches conceal World War II-era chemical weapons that render large portions uninhabitable. Despite provisions requiring removal of 'all hazards to human life,' countless unexploded munitions remain embedded in Panamanian soil. Until 1997, the U.S. Southern Command maintained its headquarters at Quarry Heights in Panama, coordinating American military operations throughout Latin America from a strategic hilltop overlooking the canal's Pacific entrance. In a poignant twist of historical symmetry, this commanding facility — where American generals once orchestrated regional military strategy — later housed Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs until 2004. The very rooms that witnessed decades of American military planning became, for critical years, the nerve center of Panamanian sovereignty. This architectural transformation from command post to diplomatic headquarters perfectly encapsulates Panama's journey from occupied territory to sovereign nation. The School of the Americas, which operated in Panama until 1984 before relocating to Fort Benning, trained officers who later led Latin America's most repressive regimes, including Manuel Noriega, Leopoldo Galtieri and Hugo Banzer — figures associated with torture, disappearances and mass killings. The legal framework governing relations rests on the 1977 treaties negotiated under President Jimmy Carter and Gen. Omar Torrijos. The Panama Canal Treaty mandated complete American withdrawal by December 31, 1999, while the companion Neutrality Treaty established permanent canal neutrality. Article five explicitly states that 'only the Republic of Panama shall operate the Canal and maintain military forces within its national territory.' What prevents unilateral reinterpretation? The foundational principle 'pacta sunt servanda' — treaties must be kept — enshrined in the Vienna Convention. Though amendment one of the neutrality treaty permits both countries to defend the canal from neutrality threats, it explicitly prohibits 'intervention in Panama's internal affairs.' Trump's claims about Chinese control collapse under scrutiny. BlackRock's recent announcement of its acquisition of Panama Ports Company — transferring container terminals from Hong Kong-based Hutchison to American ownership — directly contradicts allegations of Chinese dominion. More importantly, these terminals remain entirely separate from canal operations, which are exclusively managed by Panama's constitutionally established Canal Authority. American military presence on Panamanian ground evokes not security but painful memories of intervention for many Panamanians. Panama's transfer of the canal fulfilled decades of struggle for territorial integrity. Increased U.S. military presence would inevitably undermine this hard-won sovereignty. Trump's approach stands in stark contrast to that of President Carter, who stated that the canal treated 'mark the commitment of the United States to the belief that fairness, and not force, should lie at the heart of our dealings with the nations of the world.' The international community watches closely. Colombia and Mexico, among other nations, have expressed solidarity with Panama, while several European countries have urged restraint and respect for existing treaties. The canal waters flow peacefully today, as they have since Panama assumed control. But beneath this tranquility lies a double irony: American chemical weapons remain buried in Panamanian soil, while American strategists contemplate new deployments to 'protect' a waterway already efficiently secured by its rightful owners. Panama stands at a sovereignty crossroads. One path leads to resistance against unilateral treaty reinterpretation; another to acquiescence to intervention justified by manufactured security concerns. A third way beckons — where the U.S. fulfills its environmental obligations while respecting Panama's exclusive jurisdiction over the canal that symbolizes its independence. The ultimate test will not be found in speeches or communiqués, but in whether Washington honors both the letter and the spirit of its commitments — or chooses to write a shameful new chapter in intervention.
