Hegseth is to travel to Panama for meetings following Trump's demands for the canal

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Hegseth is to travel to Panama for meetings following Trump’s demands for the canal

By LOLITA C. BALDOR
Updated 4:19 PM EDT, April 4, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel to Panama next week to meet with leaders of the Central American country following recent Trump administration allegations of Chinese interference in the operations of the critical Panama Canal shipping lane.

President Donald Trump has complained about the U.S. relinquishing control of the waterway to Panama more than 20 years ago and has threatened to retake it, arguing that the U.S. was being overcharged for using it. Panama’s government has denied Trump’s assertion that China exerts influence over the canal.

Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesman, said Friday that Hegseth will participate in the 2025 Central American Security Conference. He said Hegseth will take part in meetings that “will drive ongoing efforts to strengthen our partnerships with Panama and other Central American nations toward our shared vision for a peaceful and secure Western Hemisphere.”

He did not mention the canal, which was built by the U.S. in the early 1900s as it looked for ways to facilitate the transit of commercial and military vessels between its coasts. Washington turned control over to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. Trump has claimed that Carter “foolishly” gave the canal away.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-panama-canal-trump-china-pentagon-e990f217bd8fd4a48486c5db88622c29

[kimbutgar]

1. I hope the leaders ignore him and not meet with him!

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Can we follow along on his Signalchat?

[Ocelot II]

3. That should go well.

I wonder which journalist will be included in his Signal chat this time?

[Deuxcents]

4. If they don't cooperate, think he'll water board em to compliance? Will he go to El Salvador

And work to release our recent deported so they can come back and get their due diligence?

[NCDem47]

5. Can you imagine being a F'n U.S. Cabinet member and having to run down ANY crazy idea that Trump has?

Like...legit having to waste time and U.S. taxpayer money on just any Trump whim?

And they probably do it with glee.

"Yes sir. Give me more sir."

[louis-t]

6. The first time around, they would distract him with shiny objects

and hope he'd forget about it by then next day. Those people have all been fired. Only ass kissers left.