Panama's Defense Minister has categorically rejected the idea of returning US troops to the country to guarantee the "security" of the Canal connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, which was previously mentioned by his American counterpart, Pete Hegseth.
"Panama has made it clear through President (Jose Raul) Mulino that we cannot accept military bases or defensive installations," said Frank Abrego, with Hegseth at his side, during a joint press conference in Panama City.
The head of the US Pentagon, who concluded a two-day visit there on Wednesday on the sidelines of joint exercises, considered that there could be an "opportunity" to reopen a military base, or an aeronautical station, facilities where US troops could collaborate with Panamanian troops to guarantee the security of the Canal.
In the middle of last month, citing two unidentified sources in the US government, the television network NBC News reported that " the White House has ordered the armed forces to present options for increasing the presence of US troops in Panama ".
The broadcast of this news caused surprise and strong discontent in the Central American country, where US troops have not been stationed for 25 years, except for cases when joint exercises are held.
US armed forces invaded Panama in December 1989 to overthrow the then dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega, who was accused of drug trafficking.
Then, in 1994, the US began the process of withdrawing the military bases it had in the country to protect the Canal, before finally handing over its management to Panamanian authorities on December 31, 1999.
The Canal, which was built by the US and inaugurated in 1914, was handed over to the control of the Panamanian president during the days of the conclusion of the bilateral Democracy Agreement.
But current US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to "take back" the Canal, not excluding the use of force, so that China ceases to control it, as he claims. Moreover, Hegseth yesterday reiterated the US claim for preferential and free use of the Panama Canal by the US Navy.
The minister responsible for the Canal, José Ramón Icaza, referred to the creation of a " mechanism that would allow warships and auxiliary vessels to benefit from a reward system for their services ," which would reduce the cost of using the Canal, but would not necessarily mean that they would use it for free. (A2 Televizion)
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