Trump's First 100 Days US, Panama ‘taking back’ canal from ‘China's influence,’ says Hegseth 'I want to be very clear. China did not build this canal.

PANAMA CITY, Panama — U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the Panama Canal faces ongoing threats from China, but that together the U.S. and Panama will keep it secure.

PANAMA CITY (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the Panama Canal faces ongoing threats from China but that together the United States and Panama will keep it secure.

If China’s alleged influence over the canal wasn’t halted, Trump threatened to “take back” the iconic waterway that the US returned to Panama in 2000, employing military force if needed.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged that the Trump administration would “take back” the Panama Canal from “China’s influence” on Tuesday during a visit to the key shipping lane.

US President Donald Trump has vowed to “take back” the US-built canal to counter what he sees as China’s disproportionate influence over the key waterway – which it handed over to Panama ...

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino urged member nations at the Mercosur Summit in Buenos Aires, to back the Río Indio ...

China and the strategic Panama Canal are much on the minds of the western hemisphere security leaders and experts gathered at the 10th annual Hemispheric Security Conference at FIU.