Sec Def Pete Hegseth was on “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo and mentioned China’s affect over the Panama Canal.
Secretary Hegseth made a visit to Panama and met with authorities officers final week.
“Inform us concerning the journey and what are an important takeaways that we have to perceive concerning the Panama Canal?” Bartiromo requested.
“President Trump stated in his State of the Union handle, China has an excessive amount of affect over the Panama Canal and America is gonna take it again,” Hegseth stated.
“Chinese language affect can’t management our personal yard, particularly a crucial waterway key terrain just like the Panama Canal,” Hegseth stated.
Secretary Hegseth additionally defined that the US was in a position to make some essential positive aspects in securing the Panama Canal for US pursuits.
“We have been in a position to safe two historic agreements, one with the Panama Canal authority, that our ships, our army vessels, and auxiliary vessels will journey first and free by that Panama Canal,” Hegseth stated.
“We additionally signed a memorandum of understanding with the protection secretary over there and the president that established the sturdy and rising US presence,” Hegseth continued.
“If we will’t use that waterway in a key contingency, then China has a bonus,” Hegseth warned.
Sec Def Hegseth additionally stated that Panama’s president has been supportive of President Trump and his insurance policies for the Panama Canal.
“I need to thank President Mulino, a pro-Trump, pro-America President of Panama who’s sticking his neck out in opposition to communists,” Hegseth continued.
Bartiromo defined that when she spoke to President Trump final month, he advised her that China’s affect was evident with the indicators that have been within the space.
“After I spoke with President Trump in an interview final month, he stated that every one the signage across the Canal was all in Chinese language. If you find yourself going into in it’s all Chinese language indicators. If you find yourself popping out of it, there’s all Chinese language indicators,” Bartiromo stated.
Hegseth defined that the Chinese language have been constructing a tunnel beneath the Canal.
“They’re constructing a tunnel beneath the Canal they’re paying for. What might that be used for? Surveillance of submarines, of ships? ” Hegseth warned.
“Eradicating signage isn’t sufficient. You’ve acquired to take away the insidious affect,” Hegseth stated of the Chinese language communist affect of the Canal.
Watch:
Right now, solely on @SundayFutures with @MariaBartiromo, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth @SecDef @PeteHegseth spoke concerning the Trump administration confronting China’s affect on the Panama Canal.@FoxNews pic.twitter.com/fVJdFMGYOo
— SundayMorningFutures (@SundayFutures) April 13, 2025
