U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told reporters in Panama on Tuesday that the United States would retake the Panama Canal back from Chinese influence.

Hegseth promised to intensify security cooperation with Panamanian forces after talks with the government of Panama. He also said that China could not "weaponize' the canal through its commercial relationships with Chinese firms.

Hegseth, who spoke at a Panama City pier that was renovated with U.S. help, said: "Together we will take the Panama Canal back from China's control." "China didn't build this canal. China does not run this canal, and China will never weaponize it. We will ensure that the canal is safe and open to all nations, with Panama as the leader. Over 40% of U.S. containers, worth approximately $270 billion per year, pass through the Panama Canal. This is more than two thirds of the vessels that pass through this second busiest interoceanic canal in the world.

Hegseth will get a closer look at the Panama Canal on Tuesday. It is the first day of his rare visit to the nation that has been shaken by Trump's threat to take the canal back.

Trump, on the other hand, has used broader language and has not ruled out military force if needed.

Hegseth's visit is the first U.S. Defense Secretary to visit Panama in decades. His trip comes after reports that the Trump Administration has asked the U.S. Military for options to ensure access the canal. The United States built the canal more than a hundred years ago and gave it to Panama in the year 1999.

Trump complained about the deal being bad for the United States.

Hegseth met with Panama's Minister of Public Security Frank Abrego, and also held meetings behind closed doors with President Jose Raul Mulino.

Hegseth is in for a tough visit given Trump's harsh rhetoric.

Ryan Berg, Director of the Americas Program of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that "on the whole this has not been a successful issue for the United States when it comes to public diplomacy with Panama."

Experts and current and former U.S. government officials say that the United States found a willing collaborator in Mulino to combat Chinese influence.

Mulino, who announced Panama's official exit from China's Belt and Road Initiative in February, has also aided Trump with his crackdown on migrants.

He accepted the deportation of non-Panamanians, and has worked to stop migrants from South America crossing his country's Darien jungle.

Hegseth thanked Mulino for his understanding of the Chinese threat, and his comments about Panama taking the lead in addressing security concerns regarding the canal appeared to be an acknowledgement of Panamanian sensibilities.

Hegseth is a former Fox News host and a U.S. veteran of the military. He has enthusiastically supported Trump's southern security agenda by, for example, sending U.S. soldiers to the border between Mexico and the U.S. and offering military aircrafts as deportation flights.

U.S. SECURITY WORRIES

Trump falsely claims that China operates the canal. Hegseth, who said that this was not true, also stated that Chinese soldiers were present.

Experts acknowledge U.S. concerns about security, especially espionage. This is due to the large Chinese commercial presence in Panama, which includes plans for Chinese firms building a bridge across the canal.

Last month, Trump praised a deal led primarily by U.S. company BlackRock, which bought the majority of the $22.8 billion ports business of Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison. This included its ports at either end of Panama Canal.

Trump claimed that the purchase is an example of the United States "reclaiming" canal.

China has criticised the deal, and the market regulator says it will conduct an antitrust investigation.

Former and current U.S. officials agree that the Panama Canal is essential for U.S. warships to transit from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific in support of any future conflict with Asia.

China would have a huge advantage even if it didn't block the canal by being able monitor vessels that pass through.

John Feeley, the former U.S. Ambassador to Panama between 2015 and 2018, disagreed with the Trump administration’s claim that China’s presence in Panama violated the U.S. Panama Treaty.

"What is not legit about Trump's approach is his bullying tactic, in which he claims that the neutrality agreement has been violated. Feeley stated that there has not been a violation.

Mulino said that Panama has handled the canal responsibly, for the world's trade, including the United States. He also stated that the canal "will continue to be Panamanian." Reporting by Phil Stewart, additional reporting by Idrees Ali and editing by Clarence Fernandez Rod Nickel Alistair Bell.

(source: Reuters)