The Panama Canal Authority has explained that it had not made any changes to the reimbursements or rights to pass the channel it denied the previous information from the United States.
But: “The Panama Canal Authority is ready to perform a dialogue with the responsible American officers about the passage of warships from this country,” was also announced. The US Department of Foreign Affairs had previously stated that ships of the US government could now use the channel for free.
Washington had claimed exemption from reimbursements
After violent criticism from Washington, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on the administration of the Panama Canal. The Panama government has made this promise, the US Department of Foreign Affairs told X. X. This would save the United States millions of dollars. In the first instance there was no explanation from a Panamaic side. The US President Donald Trump had repeatedly said that the US was not being treated fairly in the Panama Canal.
Trump also claims that China runs the important Waterweg in Central America. Both Panama and China rejected the allegations. However, Panama is under considerable pressure to make concessions. The Republican has no military operation on the Panama Canal. The Waterweg was built by the United States in the early 20th century. What it looks like for our trade ships remained open.
During the weekend, the American Foreign Minister Marco Rubio had traveled to Panama to underline Trump’s right to control the Panama Canal. He also complained about the influence of China on the global waterway as unacceptable.
The American Minister of Defense calls Panama Canal Top Priority
However, the American Minister of Defense Pete Hegseeth was on the phone with Panama’s security minister Frank Ábego on Wednesday. Hegseeth emphasized that the preservation of the American national security interests had a “top priority”, said it in a message from his ministry. This includes securing the unhindered access to the Panama Canal and keeping foreign interference free.
Ábrego wrote on X that Hegseeth Panama will visit in April, but only mentioned the common interests of the two countries in safety and migration problems as the subject of the telephone conversation.
The Hutchison Ports PPC from Hong Kong has performed large container terminals on both sides of the canal since 1997. The company is from a rich Hong Kong family. However, there is fear that the government in Beijing could also expand its influence on ports and shipping routes through private Chinese companies.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
