Panama claims US recognized its control over canal - Washington reacts
Photo: Pete Hegseth, US Secretary of Defense (Getty Images)
Panama and the US signed agreements on security and regional cooperation, but the issue of control over the canal remains unresolved. The two countries use different wording in their statements, according to the Pentagon and The Hill.
The Minister of Public Security of Panama, Frank Abrego, during a press conference with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, told reporters that the Pentagon chief, after a private meeting with Panama's senior officials, “acknowledged the sovereignty of Panama over the Panama Canal.”
Different versions of joint statement
In the Spanish version of the joint US-Panama statement, the Central American country stated that the US Secretary of Defense “recognized the leadership and inalienable sovereignty of Panama over the Panama Canal and its adjacent areas.”
However, the English version of the statement, published by the Pentagon, did not include this phrase regarding Panama's control over the waterway.
US media point out that such a discrepancy arose following previous rhetoric from US President Donald Trump, who had threatened that Washington would take control of the waterway to protect it from China's control.
However, Panama denies that Beijing controls the vital shipping route.
Pentagon chief discusses US-Panama agreement
On Wednesday, Hegseth stated that the US is "helping to take back the Panama Canal from communist Chinese influence." He also announced an expansion of the US- Panama partnership to ensure the security of the Panama Canal in order to counter "malign influence" from China in the region.
"[China's] growing and adversarial control of strategic land and critical infrastructure in this hemisphere cannot and will not stand," he added.
Hegseth, who was in Panama for a three-day security conference, also announced the expansion of the partnership during a joint press conference with Panama’s Minister of Public Security, Frank Abrego.
"The Panama Canal is key terrain that must be secured by Panama, with America, and not China," Hegseth said.
He added that, shortly before the press conference, the US and Panama signed a memorandum of understanding on joint security activities in the region and that an additional declaration on the security and operation of the Panama Canal would soon be signed.
This declaration, said Hegseth, would lay the foundation for US military and auxiliary ships to "travel first and free" through the canal.
The US Secretary of Defense also revealed that the signed memorandum would pave the way for increased joint training between the two countries and improve overall interoperability between their armed forces by restoring rotational joint presence at several previously operating US military sites.
Avoiding question of US recognition of Panama's control over canal
At the same time, the US press reported that the Pentagon chief seemed to avoid answering whether the US recognized Panama’s sovereignty over the canal, stating that "we clearly understand that the Panama Canal is in Panama, and protecting Panama's sovereignty from malicious influence is important."
He explained that when Trump said the US would take back the Panama Canal, what he meant was “we’re taking back the canal from Chinese influence, that involves partnership with the United States and Panama.”
NEWS: @SecDef Pete Hegseth Says U.S.
— Department of Defense (@DeptofDefense) April 9, 2025
Partnering With Panama to Secure Canal, Deter Chinahttps://t.co/y2EJ769Oc6
US-Panama security partnership
According to Hegseth, this partnership will involve US military training on Panamanian soil "by invitation, as part of rotational joint exercises."
Meanwhile, Abrego stated that Panama would not allow the establishment of permanent US military bases on its territory, but would "continue to cooperate with the U.S. in terms of security."
As part of the agreements between the US and Panama, signed earlier this week, the two countries agreed to compensate the US for "payment of tariffs and other fees" when their ships pass through the canal.
Panama will also guarantee "expedited transit for military and auxiliary ships of the Republic of Panama and the United States."
Control over Panama Canal
US President Donald Trump had previously made several statements about his intention to regain control over the Panama Canal, referring to "violations of agreements" and claiming that China was allegedly "in control" of the canal.
Meanwhile, Panama's President José Raúl Mulino stated that it is his country that controls the canal, which is crucial for global trade, including with the US Mulino emphasized that the canal "is and will remain Panamanian."
In early February, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama, during which he issued an ultimatum regarding the Panama Canal. Following Rubio's visit, Panama's president agreed not to continue agreements with China.
On February 6, the US State Department announced that Panama had canceled fees for US government ships passing through the canal. However, on the same day, Panama denied the US statement about free transit for American vessels.
Additionally, in March, US media reported that the US was preparing plans to strengthen its military presence in Panama.
