US government ships sail toll-free through Panama Canal
Ships owned by the United States government will be able to pass through the Panama Canal without charges, allowing US authorities to save millions of dollars every year. According to a statement from the US State Department, the Panamanian government has made this commitment.
The US State Department announced on Wednesday on the social network X that ships belonging to the US government will be able to use the Panama Canal without charges.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth spoke with Panama's Minister of Public Security, Frank Abrego, on Wednesday. During the conversation, Abrego emphasized that protecting the USA's national security interests is a "top priority." This includes ensuring seamless access to the Panama Canal and protecting it from foreign interference.
On February 2nd, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panama's President, Jose Raul Mulino, in the capital city. During the meeting, he conveyed that the current situation regarding the Panama Canal and China's influence in the area is unacceptable to the USA.
In his inaugural speech on January 20th, US President Donald Trump warned that the United States may take control of the Panama Canal if it deems Panama not adhering to the terms of the 1977 treaty. He previously emphasized that transferring control of this strategically important waterway to Panama in 1999 was a "gesture of cooperation," not a concession.
Panama concedes
President Mulino announced an audit of the ports near the canal, which Chinese companies manage. He also assured that the Panamanian government would not renew its agreement to join the 2017 Chinese "Belt and Road" initiative.
Since 1997, Hutchison Ports PPC, based in Hong Kong, has operated large container terminals on both sides of the canal. However, the DPA agency notes concerns that the Beijing government may extend its influence over ports and shipping routes through private Chinese companies.
In addition to warships and Coast Guard units, the US government owns many other types of vessels, such as research ships of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ships of the US Army Corps of Engineers for hydrographic and topographic research, icebreakers like the USCGC Polar Star used by the Coast Guard for navigation and missions in polar regions, and administrative tugs that assist larger vessels in ports.
