Pete Hegseth: US and Panama Will Prevent China from Weaponizing the Panama Canal

Panama Canal Security and Threats

• ⚠️ The Panama Canal faces ongoing threats, with Communist China identified as a potential actor seeking to compromise its operation or integrity.
• 🇺🇸 The United States asserts it will not permit China or any other nation to threaten the canal's functionality.

US-Panama Defense Cooperation

• 🤝 The U.S. and Panama have significantly strengthened their defense and security cooperation in recent weeks to counter these threats.
• 🚢 Chinese-based companies' control over critical infrastructure is seen as a factor that makes both Panama and the U.S. less secure, prosperous, and sovereign.

China's Role and Future Security

• 🚫 It is explicitly stated that China did not build, does not operate, and will not weaponize the Panama Canal.
• 🌍 The commitment is to keep the canal secure and available for all nations, with Panama taking the lead, backed by the deterrent power of the U.S. military.