US Proposes Troop Return to Panama Canal; Panama Rejects
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proposed a potential return of US troops to Panama to "secure" the Panama Canal, prompting immediate rejection from the Panamanian government. Hegseth suggested reviving military bases and rotating deployments, alongside a request for free canal passage for US navy ships. This follows claims by the Trump administration that China holds excessive influence over the canal and that US ships are unfairly overcharged. Panama firmly rejected the proposal, asserting its sovereignty over the canal. The US aims to counter what it perceives as Chinese threats in the region, while China accuses the US of bullying tactics.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proposed a potential return of US troops to Panama to "secure" the Panama Canal, prompting immediate rejection from the Panamanian government. Hegseth suggested reviving military bases and rotating deployments, alongside a request for free canal passage for US navy ships. This follows claims by the Trump administration that China holds excessive influence over the canal and that US ships are unfairly overcharged. Panama firmly rejected the proposal, asserting its sovereignty over the canal. The US aims to counter what it perceives as Chinese threats in the region, while China accuses the US of bullying tactics.
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