Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is gearing up for a trip to Panama next week, where he’ll sit down with Central American leaders amid escalating tensions over the Panama Canal. 

The visit comes hot on the heels of President Donald Trump’s renewed push to assert American interests in the vital shipping lane, a move conservatives are hailing as a long-overdue correction to decades of misguided policy.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will visit Panama next week, the Pentagon said, after President Donald Trump put significant pressure on the country to curb ties with China.

— Nucleus (@NewsNucleus) April 5, 2025

Trump has never minced words about his disdain for the U.S. handover of the Panama Canal to Panama back in 1999, a decision sealed by President Jimmy Carter’s 1977 treaty. “Carter foolishly gave it away,” Trump has said, arguing that the U.S. is now stuck footing an inflated bill for a waterway we built with American blood, sweat, and ingenuity. His latest allegations point the finger at China, accusing Beijing of meddling in canal operations—a charge Panama’s government has flatly denied. For conservatives, this is a classic case of America’s generosity being exploited while foreign powers circle like vultures.

Hegseth’s trip, billed as part of the 2025 Central American Security Conference, isn’t just a diplomatic photo-op. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell framed it as a strategic play to “strengthen partnerships” and promote a “peaceful and secure Western Hemisphere.” While Parnell sidestepped direct mention of the canal, the subtext is clear: the Trump administration isn’t about to let a critical artery of global trade—and U.S. military mobility—slip further from America’s grasp.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel to Panama next week to meet with leaders of the Central American country following recent Trump administration allegations of Chinese interference in the operations of the critical Panama Canal shipping lane.https://t.co/nYpAWAu2SA

— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) April 5, 2025

The Panama Canal, carved out of the jungle by American engineers in the early 20th century, was a marvel of U.S. innovation and a cornerstone of our naval dominance. Handing it over to Panama was sold as a gesture of goodwill, but Trump and his supporters see it as a shortsighted blunder that’s left us vulnerable. Now, with whispers of Chinese influence swirling, the stakes are higher than ever. 

The recent move by a Hong Kong-based conglomerate to offload its stake in ports near the canal to a group including U.S.-based BlackRock Inc. feels like a win for Team Trump. If Panama greenlights the deal, American hands will steer the ports of Balboa and Cristobal—gateways to the canal—along with dozens of others worldwide. It’s a step toward reclaiming what many conservatives believe should’ve stayed ours all along.

Panama’s leaders, meanwhile, are digging in, insisting they’ve got the canal under control and dismissing any notion of Chinese puppet strings. But for Trump loyalists, this is about more than just Panama—it’s about sending a message to Beijing and the world: America’s back, and we’re not here to play nice with those eyeing our interests.

Pete Hegseth, Secretario de Defensa de USA, participará aquí en la Conferencia de Seguridad de Centroamérica.

Un video publicado por https://t.co/0w9pQ5gMgb,
menciona que entre los temas del evento está INFRAESTRUCTURA CRÍTICA.

Seguramente ello incluirá al @canaldepanama pic.twitter.com/6wnkyRhIcf

— Pulso Económico | Aram Cisneros (@KwPulso) April 5, 2025

Before Panama, Hegseth will swing by Eglin Air Force Base to rally the troops at the 7th Special Forces Group. It’s a fitting pitstop for a Defense Secretary who’s made no secret of his commitment to a strong, unapologetic military—a stance that resonates with conservatives fed up with years of perceived weakness on the global stage.

As Hegseth touches down in Panama, all eyes will be on whether he leans into Trump’s strong stance or use a softer diplomatic touch. Either way, the trip underscores a broader truth for the right: America’s security and prosperity hinge on reclaiming what’s ours—and the Panama Canal is as good a place as any to start.