{"id":18692,"date":"2026-11-11T07:07:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T12:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=18692"},"modified":"2026-11-10T18:10:56","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T23:10:56","slug":"strong-statements-hegseth-says-us-and-panama-now-jointly-control-panama-canal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/politics-government\/strong-statements-hegseth-says-us-and-panama-now-jointly-control-panama-canal\/","title":{"rendered":"STRONG STATEMENTS! Hegseth Says US and Panama Now Jointly Control Panama Canal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared Tuesday that Washington and the administration of President Jos\u00e9 Ra\u00fal Mulino now share joint Panama Canal control<\/a><\/strong> after Panama distanced itself<\/a> from Chinese efforts. The statement marks a significant escalation in rhetoric surrounding the strategic waterway and comes during Hegseth’s first Pentagon press conference in six months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to reporters on November 10, Hegseth framed the development as a hemispheric victory<\/a>. The announcement arrives amid intense domestic scrutiny over his handling of the war with Iran and following Republican losses in the November 3 midterm elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"USA
The secretary’s remarks resurface Washington’s long-standing concerns about Chinese influence over strategic infrastructure in Latin America. The USA China Conflict Over Panama Canal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Panama Canal<\/a> Control and the China Factor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hegseth delivered a direct message about the waterway’s governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Panama pushed aside China’s efforts and now, together with them, we control the Canal. The message is clear: this is our hemisphere and let’s act accordingly” [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The secretary’s remarks resurface Washington’s long-standing concerns about Chinese influence over strategic infrastructure in Latin America. The comments suggest a new bilateral framework for the canal, though Panamanian officials have not confirmed any formal agreement altering the nation’s sovereign administration of the waterway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Mulino has consistently rejected any suggestion of diminished Panamanian authority. In December 2024, he responded firmly to similar claims from President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zone belongs to Panama and will continue to do so. The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable” [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Panam\u00e1 hizo a un lado los esfuerzos de China y ahora, junto con ellos, controlamos el Canal\u2019, manifest\u00f3 Hegseth\n\nhttps:\/\/t.co\/zE7YIs5iUm<\/p>— La Estrella de Panam\u00e1 (@EstrellaOnline) November 10, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>\n