The US government and Panama want to secure American warships a free and primary passage through the Panama Canal. Both governments would work out a corresponding regulation, announced US defense minister Pete Hegseth in Panama City. According to the Panamaic Minister of Channel Affairs, José Ramón Icaza, the United States would compensate for the default fees through security services, for example. “We will look for a mechanism,” said Icaza. It is not about the decree of the fees. The United States would compensate for it through consideration. Contractually, the Central American country is not allowed to grant individual states special rights in the passage of the important waterway between the Atlantic and the Pacific. US President Donald Trump has been claiming the Panama Canal since taking office. The Republican threatened to recover the channel for the United States. Hegseth speaks of cooperation with Panamain Panama avoided Hegseth to speak of unilateral measures in his country. “When President Trump says that we bring the Panama Canal back from the Chinese influence, it means a partnership between the United States and Panama,” said Hegseth at a press conference with Panama’s Security Minister, Frank Ábrego. On the question of a journalist as to whether the USA recognized the sovereignty of Panama over the channel, he replied: ” Important to protect the panamaic sovereignty from malignant influence ”. Among other things, the strengthening of military cooperation was agreed in Panama. Trump says China controls the waterway. Panama rejects this claim. The canal was built by the engineering corps of the US army at the beginning of the 20th century. On December 31, 1999, the United States handed over the administration to Panama.
