America will take back Panama Canal With Chinese influence, US Secretary of Defense Stomach hegsith He said during a visit to the Central American nation on Tuesday.
Hegsit, after talks with the Panama government, vowed to deepen security cooperation with the Panama forces, saying that China would not be allowed to make the canal “weapons” by using Chinese firms' trade relations for espionage.
“Together, we will withdraw the Panama Canal from China's influence,” Hegsith addressed a pier of renovation with US aid in Panama City.
“China has not created this canal. China does not work to run this canal and China will not make weapons of this canal. In collaboration with Panama, we will keep the canal safe and available to all countries.”
More than 40 % of the US container traffic, which is worth approximately 270 billion US $ 270 billion, passes through the Panama Canal, which accounts for more than two -thirds every day through the world's second settlement interviews.
It is expected that Hagsith is expected to take a closer look at the Panama Canal on Tuesday, the first day of a nation's rare visit is still anxious with threats to withdraw Trump's canal.
Although Hegsit talked about removing Chinese influence, Trump has spoken in a wider terms and the use of military force if necessary is not necessary.
Hegsith is the first US defense secretary in decades, and on his journey, the Trump administration has requested the US military to ensure access to the canal, which the United States built more than a century ago and handed over Panama in 1999.
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Trump has complained that this is a bad thing for the United States.
Panama's Public Security Minister Frank Abrago welcomed Hagsit and met with President Jose Raul Milno and other officials.
Given Trump's rigorous rhetoric, there is more stake for a visit to Hegsith.
“Overall, this has not been a winning issue for the United States in terms of public diplomacy in Panama,” said Ryanberg, director of the American program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Nevertheless, current and former US officials and experts say the United States has found a volunteer partner to deal with Chinese influence in Milano.
In February, Maulino announced a formal Panama move to get out of China's Belt and Road Initiative and helped Trump's crackdown on immigrants.
They accepted the deportation flights of the non -Panamans and worked to migrate from South America through those passing through their country's dangerous Darian jungle.
Hegsith praised Milano, saying his government understands the threat from China, and that his remarks about Panama about addressing the canal security concerns are a curse to approve Panama's sensitivity.
US military veteran and former Fox News host Hegsit enthusiastically supported Trump's southern focused security agenda, such as sending US troops to the US border with Mexico and offering military aircraft for deportation flights.
Trump has falsely claimed that China is running the canal, even Hagsit said that Tuesday was not true, and Chinese soldiers are present.
But experts recognize US security concerns, especially about spying, with Chinese trade presence in Panama, including Chinese firms' plans to build a bridge over the canal.
Last month, Trump held a deal led by US firm Blackrock to buy most of Hong Kong collective CK Hachyson's $ 22.8 billion ports of US $ 22.8 billion, including its ports on both ends of the Panama Canal.
Trump said the purchase is an example of how the United States is “re -claiming” the canal.
But China has criticized it, saying with the market regulator that it will review the dissent of the deal.
Current and former US officials say the Panama Canal will be important for the approval of US warships during any future conflict in Asia, as the Navy ships will move from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Pacific to support war efforts.
Even without blocking the canal, China can be greatly benefited by being able to survey the utensils that pass through it.
Nevertheless, John Fly, who was a US ambassador to Panama from 2015 to 2018, disagreed with the Trump administration's claim that China's presence in Panama was a violation of the US Panama deal.
“What is not legitimate for Trump's way about him has been used about him, he said, which he claims to have violated the neutrality deal.”
Milano has defended the Panama Canal administration, saying it has been taken responsible for global trade, including the United States, and it is “Panamayan, and will continue.”
B (b (b (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Additional reporting of Idris Ali; Clarence Fernandez, Rod Nickel and Alastier's Bell Edit