U.S. bolsters Panama Canal security amid rising tensions
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the United States has sent "a lot of troops to Panama." They are there to ensure security in the Panama Canal region.
The decision was revealed during a press briefing before a meeting with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Hegseth has just returned from Panama, where he claims to have had a "very successful" visit. During the visit, he reached an agreement with Panamanian authorities regarding the security and use of the Panama Canal, which will grant American warships priority passage and freedom of navigation. He also made an agreement concerning the deployment of American forces in Panama to "take back the Panama Canal from communist Chinese influence."
Trump responded to Hegseth's report by stating that the region is now under "very good control."
– We’ve moved a lot of troops to Panama, and, uh, filled up some areas that we used to have, we didn’t have any longer – said Trump. – But we have them now, and I think it’s in very good control, right? – he added.
