AMERICA FIRST, CANAL SECURED: Trump Administration Strikes Strategic Blow to China with Historic US-Panama Defense Pact

“When sovereignty meets strategy, freedom wins.”

PANAMA CITY, April 9, 2025 — In a bold and calculated move that underscores President Donald Trump’s enduring commitment to putting America first on the global stage, the United States and Panama have signed a landmark defense and security agreement designed to reinforce control over the Panama Canal and roll back the creeping influence of China in the Western Hemisphere.

This historic pact, announced by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during his visit to Panama City, signals a new era of cooperation between two allies determined to safeguard free passage, strengthen sovereignty, and prevent foreign interference in one of the world’s most strategic maritime corridors.

“Panama and the United States Are Reclaiming the Canal – Together”

The joint declaration — signed between Hegseth and Panama’s Minister for Canal Affairs — powerfully reaffirms Panamanian sovereignty over the interoceanic waterway while opening the door for new levels of military coordination. It’s a clear shot across Beijing’s bow, reminding the world that America will not sit idle as adversaries seek to gain leverage over global trade routes.

“We’re not here to conquer,” Hegseth said. “We’re here to defend. We are here because peace through strength is the only language our rivals understand — and President Trump understands that better than anyone.”

‘First and Free’: A New Naval Priority Policy in the Making

A centerpiece of the pact is the U.S. push to guarantee American warships “first and free” access through the Canal — a symbolic and operational victory for the Trump Doctrine, which champions national strength through strategic leverage.

Though the Canal Authority says this provision is in development, both sides signed a memorandum of understanding and committed to a cost-sharing model aimed at keeping American naval access cost-neutral. That, officials say, is just the beginning.

“We’re building a new framework — and America’s security is at the heart of it,” Hegseth said.

China’s Grip Exposed — and Challenged

During his remarks, Hegseth didn’t mince words. He accused the Chinese Communist Party of using covert means to exert control over infrastructure in Panama and the broader region. From military ground stations to factory fishing fleets, Beijing’s silent incursion has raised alarm bells among national security leaders — and the Trump Administration is striking back.

“Make no mistake,” Hegseth declared, “China is not just building bridges and ports — they’re building influence operations and military outposts. That ends now.”

President Trump has repeatedly warned of China’s global ambitions cloaked in economic partnerships, and this pact represents a clear step toward disrupting that quiet colonization effort.

Engineering. Cybersecurity. Sovereignty.

The agreement also lays the groundwork for deep collaboration on critical security areas — from cyber-defense to canal engineering. As Panama faces 21st-century threats, it now does so with America beside it — not just as a partner, but as a protector of mutual freedom.

Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. will soon deploy the USNS Comfort to the region, a move meant to send a message of peace, presence, and partnership.

Panama Pushes Back — But the Message Is Clear

While Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino was quick to assert his country’s sovereignty and deny that China controls the canal, the message from the Trump Administration was unmistakable: Sovereignty does not mean silence in the face of creeping foreign control.

“The United States will not allow China to threaten the Canal’s operation,” Hegseth said. “We’ve done more in recent weeks to defend this waterway than we’ve done in decades — and we’re just getting started.”

A Trump Legacy of Strength and Strategy

This latest foreign policy achievement is further testament to President Trump’s leadership style — pragmatic, bold, instinctive, and unapologetically patriotic.

As the Trump Administration continues to reshape America’s global footprint, this pact sends a thunderous signal: America is back in charge — and the canal of liberty flows free once again.