NewsTrump sends troops to Panama to secure Canal from China

Trump sends troops to Panama to secure Canal from China

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the U.S. has sent "a lot of troops to Panama" to Panama to ensure security in the Panama Canal region.

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 10: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on April 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump convened a Cabinet meeting a day after announcing a 90-day pause on ‘reciprocal’ tariffs, with the exception of China. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 10: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on April 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump convened a Cabinet meeting a day after announcing a 90-day pause on ‘reciprocal’ tariffs, with the exception of China. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Images source: © GETTY | Anna Moneymaker

The decision was revealed during a press briefing before a meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Hegseth has just returned from Panama, where he described his visit as "very successful." During his time there, he reached an agreement with Panamanian authorities on the security and management of the Panama Canal, which will grant American warships priority passage and freedom of navigation. He also secured an agreement regarding 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," Trump said. "But we have them now, and I think it’s in very good control, right?," he added.

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