The Panama Canal, and China's growing sphere of influence in it, has been a hot topic for President Trump since before he took office in January. China has had almost free reign to do what they want in the canal under the Biden Administration, but those days are coming to a close. To help bring United States influence back to the area, the President recently sent Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the canal to secure a 'first and free passage' deal.
In short, it gives safer passage now for U.S. ships moving through the canal, which has been a crucial waterway for the U.S. economy. But with China's growth, the canal has become more than just an economic feather in the cap. It has become a national security issue, with China gaining influence right in America's backyard.
Kristina Wong of Breitbart says this deal Hegseth made is another win for President Trump and gives the U.S. a presence again in the canal.
"It is letting more U.S. troops come back to the country...Panama is very, very sensitive about its sovereignty, and control of the canal...so this is not a permanent presence, there will be rotating troops in the area," she says.
The Chinese, as expected, hated the visit and the deal that was made. They tried launching an investigation to delay Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to the canal, which then shifted the responsibility to Hegseth.
But why do they hate it so much? Well, simply, because now they cannot perform their nefarious activities in the region.
"China would lend these small countries, especially developing countries, a lot of money for infrastructure projects, to the point where they cannot pay the loans back," says Wong. "What they do then is hand over infrastructure, and hand over control of ports. It is what foreign policy experts call debt trap diplomacy."
This new deal also provides more access for U.S. war ships and hospital ship, plus gives the U.S. back some jungle training ground to utilize, which China also hates.
All in all, this deal brings U.S. influence back to the canal, after years of China running rampant. It also decreases their ability to gain a monopoly over countries.
"The U.S. is now successfully undoing some of that, which is a huge shift," Wong says.
According to Wong as well, this deal helps strengthen ties between the U.S. and Panama, which China has called 'blackmail.'
Either way you slice it, the deal has been a win for the Trump Administration as they look to put China back in their place. It may also be a significant step for the U.S. economy flourish further, as Trump aims to Make America Great Again.
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