U.S. Will Not Let China Disrupt Panama Canal: Pentagon Chief

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth poses for a picture next to Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vasquez during a visit to the Miraflores locks of the Panama Canal in Panama City on April 8, 2025. (Photo by MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP)

By María Isabel Sánchez

The United States will not allow China to jeopardize the operations of the Panama Canal, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned during a visit to the Central American nation on Tuesday.

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