Panama allows US troops to be stationed on the Panama Canal, but not the establishment of military base points. This emerges from an agreement made between the USA and Panama. The agreement that the Panamaic government published on Thursday enables the United States to hold training courses, exercises and a number of other activities at Panama -controlled locations around the channel. The agreement is initially limited to three years and can be extended. However, the establishment of military bases is excluded. The agreement means a concession for US President Donald Trump, who had asked for more influence from the United States on the waterway.
The day before, US defense minister Pete Hegseth had again proposed a stationing of US troops on the Panama Canal-to his alleged backup. The USA Could “revive” military base or naval flight spaces “to” revive “military base and US troops on the channel, said Hegseth. He also called for free passage for US military ships through the canal during a visit to the Central American country. The agreement now agreed to revive US military base points, but allows the United States to send an indefinite number of troops to the country.
Military bases not acceptable
Panama’s government had decisively rejected the proposal for the permanent stationing of US troops the day before. Defense Minister Frank Abrego said in a press conference with Hegseth that Panama had made it clear by President José Raúl Mulino “that we could not accept military bases or defense facilities”.
Trump had repeatedly threatened in the past few months with the fact that the United States could take control of the channel again. The Panama Canal was built in the early 20th century by the engineering corps of the US army. On December 31, 1999, the United States handed over the administration to Panama.
In his opinion, Trump criticizes the Chinese influence on the waterway between the Atlantic and the Pacific, which is too great, through which five percent of the world trade run. Panama made several concessions to Trump and put pressure on a Hong Kong port operator to withdraw from the canal.
