Panama makes "major concessions" to Washington, allowing US troops to deploy near the canal

According to a bilateral agreement seen by Agence France-Presse on Thursday, April 10, US troops will be allowed to deploy around the Panama Canal. Although the possibility of military bases is ruled out, this is considered a major concession made by the country to Washington.

Agence France-Presse reported that the presence of US troops in this Central American country is a sensitive issue, as it evokes the era when the US had enclaves and military bases there before returning the canal to Panamanians in 1999.

The agreement signed by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth during his visit to Panama this week and Panamanian Defense Minister Frank Abrego states that US troops and private military companies hired by the US "will be able to use authorized locations, facilities, and designated areas for training, humanitarian activities, and exercises." The facilities will be owned by Panama and jointly used by the armed forces of both countries.

According to the White House's X account, US Secretary of Defense said at a government meeting on Thursday: "We have signed several historic agreements, and we are taking back the canal. China's influence is too great."

Reuters reported that Hegseth said on Thursday: "We and Panama are driving China out."

In a press conference on Wednesday, the US Secretary of Defense hinted that joint defense exercises were an opportunity to "reboot" a "military base" where "US Armed Forces" would carry out operations. However, this caused unease. Panamanian Defense Minister Abrego responded in the same press conference saying: "We cannot accept military bases or defense sites."

On Thursday in Peru, Panamanian President Mollino confirmed that the US had requested to rebuild military bases in Panama and "cede territory," but this was rejected by him. The Panamanian government said that the US removed the phrase from the English version of the joint communiqué stating that Panama has "inalienable sovereignty" over the canal. On Thursday, the Panamanian government requested Washington to update the joint communiqué text to include this content.

The Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans without going around South America, was built by the US in 1914 and handed over to Panama in 1999. Since coming to power in January, the Trump administration has placed it at the top of its strategic agenda, especially to counterbalance China's interests in this Latin American region, which the US often views as its sphere of influence. Trump even raised the possibility of "taking back" the canal.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829121351060804/

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