Latest news with #USSouthernCommand
Boston Globe
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Lawsuit says migrants endure isolation and intimidation at US' Guantanamo detention center
'Officers at Guantánamo have created a climate of extreme fear and intimidation where immigrant detainees are afraid to communicate freely with their counsel,' the lawsuit says, adding that conditions are more restrictive than at mainland detention facilities, prisons and in some instances law-of-war military custody at Guantanamo Bay. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up US Southern Command, which oversees the base, declined to comment on the lawsuit and referred requests to the Department of Homeland Security, which did not immediately respond to an email Saturday. Advertisement In March a federal judge ruled against advocates' attempts to help migrants at Guantanamo and prevent further transfers there, days after the administration moved all migrants out of the facility. Two Nicaraguans who arrived since then have submitted court declarations charting their journey through detention centers in Louisiana to Cuba and describing their anguished concerns that phone conversations are being monitored and might lead to punishment or reprisals. Advertisement Attorneys have no in-person contact with clients at the base and say they are chained and placed in restraints during legal calls that are broadcast on speakerphone with officers seated outside an open doorway. That undermines the right to confidential communication and attorney-client privilege, the lawsuit says. The complaint also says some detainees have been interrogated by the FBI about possible gang affiliation while surrounded by military officers. One person was stripped in search of a missing toothbrush, and another was locked in a concrete cell with no windows or lights for four days, it adds. 'I have been allowed to speak to my family about 20 times. Each call is about 5 minutes,' Johon Suazo-Muller said in a written declaration to the court that was translated into English. He said he immigrated to the US from Nicaragua in October 2023 in search of asylum from political conflict and a better life. 'I am not allowed to give any information about my time at Guantanamo,' Suazo-Muller said. 'I can't say where I'm at or details about how I'm doing.'
Daily Mail
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump says American ships should 'immediately' be allowed free travel through Panama and Suez canals
President Donald Trump has called for American military and commercial ships to be allowed to travel through the Panama and Suez Canals for free. In a post to his Truth Social, Trump said: 'American Ships, both Military and Commercial, should be allowed to travel, free of charge, through the Panama and Suez Canals! 'Those Canals would not exist without the United States of America. I've asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately take care of, and memorialize, this situation!' Trump has repeatedly said he wanted to 'take back' the canal before he took office in January. His remarks on Saturday night come after insiders claimed last month that he had ordered the military to draw up plans to seize the Panama Canal. The US Southern Command has developed an array of potential plans to ensure the America has full access to the Panama Canal, two military sources confirmed to Reuters. Draft strategies reportedly range from partnering closely with Panamanian security forces to using American troops to forcibly seize the waterway, which officials say is the less likely option. Officials allege Adm. Alvin Holsey, commander of US Southern Command, presented the proposals to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. His remarks on Saturday night come after insiders claimed earlier this week that he had ordered the military to draw up plans to seize the Panama Canal Trump has asserted that the US needs to take back the canal because China controls it and could use the waterway to undermine American interests. Any move by a foreign power to take the canal by force would almost certainly violate international law. A US invasion of Panama is unlikely, the insiders cautioned, telling NBC News that such a move would only be seriously considered if increased presence of American troops in the area did not achieve Trump's goal to 'take back' the canal. Trump has said repeatedly he wants to 'take back' the waterway, but has not offered specifics about how he would do so, or if military action might be required. One insider said a document, described as an interim national security guidance by the new administration, called on the military to look at military options to safeguard access to the canal. A second official said the US military had a wide array of potential options to safeguard access, including ensuring a close partnership with Panama's military. The Panama Canal cross the narrowest part between North and South America, which allows ships to move quickly between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. It is considered one of the world's most strategically important waterways. The U.S. completed construction of the canal in the early 20th century but gave control of the strategically important waterway to Panama in 1999. The US and Panama are treaty-bound to defend the canal against any threat to its neutrality and are permitted to take unilateral action to do so. The Suez meanwhile connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, accounting for 10 to 12 percent of global trade. In his inaugural speech in January, Trump repeated accusations that Panama has broken the promises it made for the final transfer of the canal in 1999.
Telegraph
14-03-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Pentagon ordered to draw up plans to ‘reclaim' Panama Canal
Donald Trump has ordered his military to draw up options to 'reclaim' the Panama Canal – including by force. The president has repeatedly said he wants the US to regain control of the strategically important waterway, which was handed over to the Panamanians by American authorities in 1999. Wide-ranging proposals being developed by the US Southern Command include a new partnership with Panamanian security forces, an increase in troop numbers in the region and seizing the canal by force, officials told NBC News. The sources said the use of force would depend on whether Panamanian security forces would agree to co-operate with the US in a partnership. Mr Trump wants to reclaim the canal in order to diminish China's influence in the region, the officials added. Panama has denied claims that it has granted Beijing greater influence over the waterway in recent years and said only its government could determine the canal's future. Tensions between the US and China have risen since Mr Trump returned to the White House in January, with Beijing accusing Washington of 'coercing' Panama to block aid projects. On Thursday, a comment piece in a state-backed newspaper urged CK Hutchison, a Hong Kong conglomerate, to 'think twice' about plans to sell most of its ports business, including assets in the Panama Canal, to US firm BlackRock as part of a $22.8 billion (£17.6 billion) deal. The article, which was shared by China's office for Hong Kong affairs, accused the US of using 'despicable means' to force through the deal, which it said would harm Chinese trade. '[Critics] say this is a spineless, grovelling, profit-seeking move that sells one's integrity for personal gains, and an act that disregards national interests ... [which] betrays and sells out all Chinese people,' said the opinion piece. The Panama Canal is one of the world's busiest waterways, with the majority of cargo passing through heading to or from the US. A series of draft strategies were presented to Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, earlier this week, ahead of his trip to the Central American country next month. Mr Trump reportedly wants a visible increase in the number of troops in Panama as a show of force. Some 200 troops are currently stationed there. Washington could also position troops near Panama in the event of a regional war or conflict involving the US. In that scenario, officials said troops would seize the canal, blocking China's access to it. However, an invasion of Panama is unlikely, officials said. They added that an increase in troops in the region would probably be enough to ward off other foreign influence. Mr Trump believes China's presence in the area is too great, and fears Beijing could shut access to the canal to American shipping in the event of a conflict. Panama gained control of the waterway under a 1977 treaty signed by Jimmy Carter, the then US president, though it did not come into effect for another two decades. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, told Panamanian authorities during a visit last month that the status quo of Chinese presence in the region was 'unacceptable'. Jose Raul Mulino, Panama's president, told Mr Rubio that only his government could administer the canal and denied giving China power over the waterway. Last year, Gen Laura Richardson, who at the time headed the US Southern Command, accused China of 'playing the long game' in attempting to gain control of the canal. While Beijing insisted its intentions were peaceful, Gen Richardson said it was targeting 'strategic naval choke points'. Mr Trump's promise to 'reclaim' the canal is part of his wider strategy to expand US influence. He has pledged to make Canada America's '51st state' and to 'get Greenland'. On Thursday, the chairman of Denmark's defence committee said any move to acquire Greenland would mean 'war between two Nato countries'.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pentagon ordered to draw up plans to ‘reclaim' Panama Canal
Donald Trump has ordered his military to draw up options to 'reclaim' the Panama Canal – including by force. The president has repeatedly said he wants the US to regain control of the strategically important waterway, which was handed over to the Panamanians by American authorities in 1999. Wide-ranging proposals being developed by the US Southern Command include a new partnership with Panamanian security forces, an increase in troop numbers in the region and seizing the canal by force, officials told NBC News. The sources said the use of force would depend on whether Panamanian security forces would agree to co-operate with the US in a partnership. Mr Trump wants to reclaim the canal in order to diminish China's influence in the region, the officials added. Panama has denied claims that it has granted Beijing greater influence over the waterway in recent years and said only its government could determine the canal's future. Tensions between the US and China have risen since Mr Trump returned to the White House in January, with Beijing accusing Washington of 'coercing' Panama to block aid projects. On Thursday, a comment piece in a state-backed newspaper urged CK Hutchison, a Hong Kong conglomerate, to 'think twice' about plans to sell most of its ports business, including assets in the Panama Canal, to US firm BlackRock as part of a $22.8 billion (£17.6 billion) deal. The article, which was shared by China's office for Hong Kong affairs, accused the US of using 'despicable means' to force through the deal, which it said would harm Chinese trade. '[Critics] say this is a spineless, grovelling, profit-seeking move that sells one's integrity for personal gains, and an act that disregards national interests ... [which] betrays and sells out all Chinese people,' said the opinion piece. The Panama Canal is one of the world's busiest waterways, with the majority of cargo passing through heading to or from the US. A series of draft strategies were presented to Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, earlier this week, ahead of his trip to the Central American country next month. Mr Trump reportedly wants a visible increase in the number of troops in Panama as a show of force. Some 200 troops are currently stationed there. Washington could also position troops near Panama in the event of a regional war or conflict involving the US. In that scenario, officials said troops would seize the canal, blocking China's access to it. However, an invasion of Panama is unlikely, officials said. They added that an increase in troops in the region would probably be enough to ward off other foreign influence. Mr Trump believes China's presence in the area is too great, and fears Beijing could shut access to the canal to American shipping in the event of a conflict. Panama gained control of the waterway under a 1977 treaty signed by Jimmy Carter, the then US president, though it did not come into effect for another two decades. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, told Panamanian authorities during a visit last month that the status quo of Chinese presence in the region was 'unacceptable'. Jose Raul Mulino, Panama's president, told Mr Rubio that only his government could administer the canal and denied giving China power over the waterway. Last year, Gen Laura Richardson, who at the time headed the US Southern Command, accused China of 'playing the long game' in attempting to gain control of the canal. While Beijing insisted its intentions were peaceful, Gen Richardson said it was targeting 'strategic naval choke points'. Mr Trump's promise to 'reclaim' the canal is part of his wider strategy to expand US influence. He has pledged to make Canada America's '51st state' and to 'get Greenland'. On Thursday, the chairman of Denmark's defence committee said any move to acquire Greenland would mean 'war between two Nato countries'. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The National
26-02-2025
- Politics
- The National
Pentagon chief Hegseth visits Guantanamo as Trump clamps down on illegal migration
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth toured Guantanamo Bay on Tuesday to see detention facilities set up to house undocumented migrants. The base is best known for jailing suspected militants swept up in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks but President Donald Trump last month announced that Guantanamo would hold up to 30,000 undocumented migrants as part of his sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration. 'Arrived at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay on the front lines of the war against America's southern border,' Mr Hegseth wrote in a post on X that included a video of him saluting and shaking hands with troops at the base in south-eastern Cuba, where he once served as a military officer. He later posted that he had toured the detention facilities at the base, saying it is 'a critical temporary stop in processing these dangerous illegal aliens for eventual removal from our country.' A Pentagon announcement on Mr Hegseth's trip said it 'underscores the department's commitment to ensuring the security and operational effectiveness' of the base and 'provides an opportunity to engage with the dedicated service members and personnel who play a vital role in the base's mission.' The United States began flying migrants to Guantanamo earlier this month, more than 170 of whom were repatriated to Venezuela last week. US Southern Command said Tuesday there were '17 high threat illegal aliens' who arrived at the base over the weekend and are being held there. The Trump administration has launched what it cast as a major effort to combat illegal migration that has included immigration raids, arrests and deportations, including via Guantanamo. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other advocacy groups said earlier this month that they had filed a suit seeking access to migrants held at the base.
