The United States has secured two deals involving the Panama Canal after months of back and forth over the key waterway.
In last night’s cabinet meeting with the President, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared that the Panama Canal Authority has agreed to allow U.S. military vessels to pass through first and free.
A memorandum of understanding has also been signed between the two countries to secure the Panama Canal from Chinese influence.
A military base for both the U.S. and Panama has been established, the Defense Secretary went on to describe Panama’s President as very complimentary of the U.S., calling him a great ally.
More than 40% of the United States container traffic, worth nearly $270 billion, passes through the canal each year.