U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Pete Hegseth has vowed that America “will take back the Panama Canal from China’s influence.”
During a visit to Panama on Tuesday, Hegseth warned that the United States and Panama will not allow Communist China to “weaponize this canal.”
“I want to be very clear — China did not build this canal,” Hegseth said.
“China does not operate this canal, and China will not weaponize this canal.”
.@SecDef @PeteHegseth: “China did not build this canal. China does not operate this canal, and China will not weaponize this canal.” pic.twitter.com/tQ3pIerWr6
— Kristina Wong 🇺🇸 (@kristina_wong) April 8, 2025
“Together with Panama in the lead, we will keep the canal secure and available for all nations through the deterrent power of the strongest, most effective, and most lethal fighting force in the world,” Hegseth said.
“We will do this in partnership with Panama.
“Together, we will take back the Panama Canal from China’s influence, and we will do this along with other capable like-minded allies and partners.
“This is what ‘peace through strength’ looks like,” he said.
Panama has denied that the canal has fallen under China’s influence.
However, Hegseth said China-based companies continue to control critical infrastructure in the area.
This influence gives the Chinese Communist Party the potential to conduct surveillance across Panama.
“As President Donald Trump has pointed out, that situation is not acceptable,” he said.
Hegseth delivered his remarks at a ceremony unveiling a pier at the Vasco Nuñez de Balboa Naval Base.
The base was refurbished with support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The base was once known as the Rodman Naval Station.
It was formerly a U.S. base before it was handed over to Panama in 1999.
The Panama Canal was built by the U.S. in 1914.
However, President Jimmy Carter agreed to give it to Panama in 1979.
The canal has become a major focus early on in the Trump administration’s foreign policy.
Trump has prioritized shoring up security on the southern border and in the Western hemisphere while stopping China from its long-term goal of replacing the U.S. as the world’s top superpower.
During his Joint Address to Congress in March, Trump said:
“To further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we’ve already started doing it.
“Just today, a large American company announced they are buying both ports around the Panama Canal and lots of other things having to do with the Panama Canal and a couple of other canals.
“The Panama Canal was built by Americans for Americans, not for others, but others could use it.
“But it was built at tremendous cost of American blood and treasure.
“Thirty-eight thousand workers died building the Panama Canal.
“They died of malaria. They died of snake bites and mosquitoes.
“Not a nice place to work,” he noted.
“They paid them very highly to go there, knowing there was a 25 percent chance that they would die.
“The most expensive project, also, that was ever built in our country’s history, if you bring it up to modern-day costs.
“It was given away by the Carter administration for $1, but that agreement has been violated very severely.
“We didn’t give it to China,” Trump asserted.
“We gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.”
Hegseth’s visit to Panama is the second time a top Trump administration official has visited the country in just three months.
In February, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also travelled to Panama.
Rubio’s visit helped convince Panama not to renew an infrastructure project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
China’s BRI seeks to build closer ties to countries via infrastructure projects.
The initiative has often resulted in the country accepting a loan under conditions that later entrap them in steep debt to China’s communist regime.
Foreign policy experts have dubbed China’s tactics “debt trap diplomacy.”
During Hegseth’s trip, he met with Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino, Minister of Public Security Frank Abrego, and other top Panamanian officials.
The Pentagon chief also attended the 2025 Central America Security Conference, co-hosted by the U.S. and Panama.
On Tuesday evening, Mulino, Panama Canal Authority Administrator Ricaurte Vazquez, and Hegseth released a statement that recognized the “robust foundation and legacy” of the U.S.-Panama security partnership.
He said they were committed to strengthening bilateral Canal security cooperation.
The statement acknowledged that the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 guaranteed the “expedited transit of warships and auxiliary vessels of the Republic of Panama and the United States.”
It added that both countries would work on a mechanism to compensate for the payment of tolls and charges and enhance bilateral security cooperation.
Hegseth pledged that the U.S. relationship with Panama would “continue to grow in the months and years ahead.”
But he also concluded his remarks by declaring:
“We worked together to build this canal.
“Workers from both our countries gave their lives during its construction.
“We are proud of our shared history and excited for our shared future.
“Returning Pier 3 to service today shows how we will continue to work together to secure and preserve that legacy.
“God bless. Thank you very much.”
READ MORE – Trump Fires ‘Woke’ NATO Admiral for Spreading Leftist Ideology
