“We will take the Panama channel back under China's influence.” The head of the Pentagon met with President Mulino, considered a partner willing to counteract Beijing

The United States will recover the Panama channel under the Chinese influence, the US Secretary of Defense said on Tuesday in the visit he made in the Central American nation, Reuters reports.

Following the discussions with the Panaman government, Pete Hegseth promised to expand the cooperation with the Panamanian forces and stressed that Beijing cannot be allowed to use the “as a weapon” channel by using the commercial relations of Chinese companies for spy purposes.

“Together we will take back the Panama channel under China's influence,” said the head of the Pentagon, in Panama City, in statements held in the area of ​​a renovated pier with American support.

“China has not built this channel. China does not operate this channel and China will not use this channel as a weapon. Together with Panama, we will keep the channel safe and available for all nations,” said Pete Hegseth.

Over 40% of US container traffic, valued at over $ 270 billion a year, transits the Panama Canal, representing more than two -thirds of the ships that pass every day through the second busiest interoceanic waterway.

When he threatened to return the Panama channel under US control, President Donald Trump did not exclude the possibility of using military force if necessary.

The head of the Pentagon met with the president and other Panamani officials

Hegseth is the first American defense secretary to visit the Panama Canal in recent decades, and the visit has materialized in the context of information that the Trump administration has asked the US Army to ensure access to the channel. It was built by the US more than a century ago and was handed over to Panama authorities in 1999.

The head of the Pentagon was welcomed by Panamez Minister for Public Security, Frank Abrego, and had meetings behind closed doors with President Jose Raul Mulino and other officials.

Former and current American officials and experts believe that the US has found a partner in Mulino to counteract Chinese influence. In February, President Panamez announced the formal decision of the country to exit the Belt and Road initiative of China and supported Trump's implemented measures.

Jose Raul Mulino accepted the flights of deportation of non-panal migrants and made efforts to stop the migrants from South America who were heading to the US through Jungle Darn.

Pete Hegseth praised Mulino and said that his government understood the threat represented by China.

American security concerns

Donald Trump has falsely stated about the Panama channel that he was operated on by China, an accusation denied by Hegseth on Tuesday, and said that there would be Chinese soldiers.

However, experts confirm American security concerns, especially in terms of espionage activities, in the context of extended commercial presence in Panama, which also includes plans for Chinese companies to build a bridge over the channel.

At the beginning of March, Hutchinson CK, a conglomerate from Hong Kong, reached an agreement for selling his participation in a key port operator from the Panama channel to a consortium supported by Blackrock INC, in a major diplomatic success for Donald Trump. The American leader said the acquisition is an example of the way the US channel is “claimed”.

China criticized the transaction.

Current and former American officials say about Panama channel that they would play a critical role in the transit of American war vessels in a possible future conflict in Asia, since US vessels would have to pass from the Atlantic to Pacific to support the effort of war.

Even without blocking the channel, China could have a huge advantage if they were able to monitor the ships that transit the area.