Trump had repeatedly threatened in the past few months that the United States could again take control of the strategically and economically important channel between the Atlantic and the Pacific. He justified this by the fact that China had too strong influence on the waterway. The United States built the canal in the early 20th century and handed over to Panama in 1999. In his threats, Trump did not rule out the option of a US military invasion in Panama.
In the agreement signed during a visit by US defense minister Pete Hegseth, Panama makes considerable concessions. In this way, the number of US soldiers that may be stationed on the channel are not limited. However, the Panamaic government did not completely bend completely.
This does not allow Memorandum to build the US Army on Wednesday by Hegseth and the Panamaic Security Minister Frank Ábrego on Wednesday to build their own permanent bases. The US soldiers will therefore be in facilities controlled by Panama. The individual US troops to the channel also require Panamaic approval. In addition, Panama’s sovereignty is expressly recognized in the text.
During his visit in the small central American country, Hegseth had proposed that the United States could “revive” Panama’s military base or naval flight spaces “at the invitation of” Panama’s military base ” – a demand with which it did not penetrate. Nevertheless, the White House in online service X spread an explanation of Hegseth, in which it was said that he had agreed in Panama “several historical agreements”, through which “we bring back the channel”.
Panamaic President José Raúl Mulino, however, reported during a visit to Peru that he had rejected several US designs for the agreement as “unacceptable” during the negotiations. The US representatives originally requested their own military bases and wanted to incorporate terms such as “constant military presence” and “area abduction”. He asked Hegseth if he wanted to create a “mess” in Panama and “let the country open” in flames, said Mulino.
The autonomous management of the canal by Panama is a foundation of the national pride in the Central American country – and the relationship with the USA is tension. The traumatic memories of the US invasion also play a role 35 years ago, through which rulers Manuel Noriega had fallen. The invasion killed more than 500 people and parts of Panama city were destroyed.
Despite the concessions made by the US side in the agreement, Mulino made rapidly angry criticism from his own country. The union leader Saúl Méndez told the AFP news agency that the Convention was a “setback for national sovereignty”. Panama’s government has committed “treason”: “They are traitor and have to be brought to court.”
Panama’s government had already made some concessions in the past few weeks in view of Trump’s threats. During a visit by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Mulino explained in February that Panama would no longer participate in the Chinese infrastructure program. The Panamaic government also exerted pressure on Hong Kong’s port operator Hutchison to withdraw from the channel. Hutchinson has so far operated the ports at both ends of the canal.
Shortly before Hegseth’s visit, the Panamaic government published the results of a review of the Hutchinson subsidiaries responsible for the ports. It is said to have made it guilty of numerous breaches of contract. Hutchinson had already announced in March to want to sell the ports for $ 19 billion (17 billion euros) to a consortium under the direction of the US investment company Blackrock.
