Panama holds back the US on the Canal, joint management denied

Panama rejected US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's claims of shared stewardship of the infrastructure. The controversy erupted after the American politician claimed that the Isthmian country had distanced itself from Beijing's influence. “Panama pushed aside China's efforts and now, together with them, we control the Canal,” he said.

The institutional response came from Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha, who clarified that sovereignty over the hydraulic work is exclusive to the Central American nation. The head of diplomacy explained that bilateral security agreements against drug trafficking and organized crime do not imply two-way management. “The Canal belongs to the Panamanians and will continue to be so,” he stressed.

The disagreement reignites tensions that emerged in the first months of Donald Trump's administration, when Washington raised concerns about the Asian presence. The local government reiterated its desire not to get involved in the geopolitical disputes between the two powers, recalling that 42 states have already signed up to the Maritime Neutrality Protocol.