The U.S. Prepares a Military Plan to Control the Panama Canal
The Trump administration has directed the Pentagon to develop military options to ensure the United States' unrestricted access to the Panama Canal.
Photo: wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
The administration of Donald Trump has officially requested "compelling military options" from the Pentagon to ensure the U.S.'s unrestricted access to the Panama Canal. This is stated in a memo from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, according to CNN.
According to the document, the Pentagon must immediately prepare options to secure military and commercial access to the strategically important waterway.
Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino denied Trump's claims, calling them false. He emphasized that the "return" of the canal has never been discussed with U.S. officials.
Panama has fully controlled the canal since 1999, despite Trump's assertions about Chinese influence.
The request for military solutions has raised concerns, as it may lead to increased tensions in the region. CNN has reached out to the Pentagon for comments.
Two U.S. officials told Reuters that the Trump administration had instructed the Pentagon to explore military options to secure full U.S. access to the Panama Canal.
One of the sources described the document containing these recommendations as an "interim national security directive." He specified that the new directive requires the military to propose options for protecting U.S. interests in the region.
The second source noted that the U.S. military has a wide range of potential actions, including diplomatic pressure and strengthening military cooperation with Panama. However, he also stated that the Trump administration is considering more radical steps if necessary.
Earlier, Donald Trump, speaking before Congress, announced his intention to return control of the Panama Canal to the U.S. According to him, the U.S. invested significant resources in its construction and should not lose this strategic asset.
Trump emphasized that the canal was transferred to Panama, not China, and stated that his administration is already working on regaining control. He also mentioned that an American company is planning to acquire key ports in the canal zone.
The president assured that the waterway would remain open, but U.S. national interests would take priority.
Additionally, it was reported that after Trump's remarks about a possible annexation of Canada as the 51st state, the country has tightened its border security measures despite his claims of mutual economic benefits.