Remember when America wasn’t afraid to protect its vital interests around the world? For decades, we’ve watched as foreign powers—particularly Communist China—have steadily expanded their influence in our own backyard. The Panama Canal, built by American ingenuity and once a symbol of our national strength, has been slipping into the sphere of Chinese influence right under our noses. But something big just happened that you won’t see splashed across the mainstream media headlines.
While visiting Panama this week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a message that signals a dramatic shift in American policy. Standing at a newly constructed American-financed pier, he announced a development that should make every patriotic American stand a little taller.
The Trump administration, true to its America First agenda, is finally taking decisive action to push back against growing Chinese influence over one of the world’s most strategic waterways. Hegseth announced that the United States and Panama will work together to “take back the Panama Canal from China’s influence.”
From ‘The Hill’:
“The United States and Panama will work together to take back the Panama Canal from ‘China’s influence,'” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday while standing in front of the vital shipping lane. “China did not build this canal. China does not operate this canal and China will not weaponize this canal,” Hegseth said from the pier.
This is what real leadership looks like, Americans. Not empty threats, not endless negotiations, but clear, direct action to secure American interests.
China’s Dangerous Game in Our Backyard
The threat from Beijing has been growing for years while previous administrations did nothing. Remember how the Biden administration practically rolled out the red carpet for Chinese influence in our hemisphere? China has been installing what Hegseth called “critical infrastructure” throughout the canal zone, creating what he warned gives them the “potential” to “conduct surveillance” of this vital waterway.
The Chinese Communist Party has been positioning itself to monitor and potentially control a shipping lane through which approximately $270 billion in American goods pass each year. This isn’t just about a canal somewhere in Central America—this is about our national security and economic future.
Panama’s recent withdrawal from China’s Belt and Road Initiative in February was the first sign that the tide might be turning. This massive program has been Beijing’s primary tool for extending its tentacles throughout the developing world. The fact that Panama is now backing away speaks volumes about the new confidence countries feel with America reasserting its leadership. Isn’t it amazing what happens when we have an administration that puts American interests first?
Protecting America’s Economic Lifeline
Why should everyday Americans care about what happens in Panama? Simple. The Panama Canal is quite literally one of America’s economic lifelines. This isn’t just some diplomatic squabble—it’s about protecting American jobs, American products, and American consumers.
When $270 billion worth of goods move through a single chokepoint annually, control of that passage becomes a matter of national significance. Higher shipping costs mean higher prices at your local store. Delays mean empty shelves. And Chinese surveillance means vulnerability for American businesses and military vessels. How much more would you be willing to pay for everyday items if China decided to flex its muscle at the canal?
I can’t help but notice how the Trump administration’s approach in Panama aligns perfectly with its broader economic agenda. From fair trade deals to strategic tariffs on Chinese goods, we’re finally seeing a coherent strategy to protect American economic interests both at home and abroad.
Reversing Decades of American Decline
The United States built this engineering marvel in the early 1900s, only to hand it over to Panama completely in 1999 under agreements signed by President Jimmy Carter. When was the last time you saw America willingly surrender strategic assets? It’s been happening far too often.
President Trump himself has been clear about his intent to reclaim American influence over the canal, stating in his March congressional address that “to further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we’ve already started doing it.”
Some criticized this approach as too aggressive, but the results speak for themselves. Rather than using military force, the administration has employed smart diplomacy backed by economic and military strength. The recent sale of two major ports along the canal from a Hong Kong company to an investment group led by American firm BlackRock represents another win for the America First agenda.
As Hegseth put it so perfectly during his visit, “Together with Panama in the lead, we will keep the canal secure and available for all nations.” That’s not just good for America—it’s good for the entire free world. And it’s exactly the kind of leadership we’ve been waiting for.
Key Takeaways:
- Defense Secretary Hegseth announced joint US-Panama efforts to counter Chinese influence over the strategically vital Panama Canal.
- Panama has withdrawn from China’s Belt and Road Initiative under Trump administration pressure, marking a significant foreign policy victory.
- The Panama Canal’s security directly impacts American consumers through the $270 billion in goods that pass through annually.
- Trump’s “peace through strength” approach is yielding concrete results without military intervention, proving America First policies work.
