A new report claims that President Donald Trump has given the United States military orders to come up with options to reclaim the Panama Canal as the 47th president seeks to reduce China’s influence over the canal.
Two U.S. officials with knowledge of the planning effort told NBC News that U.S. Southern Command is currently working on potential plans to work more closely with Panama’s security forces at the canal or use U.S. troops to forcefully seize control of the Panama Canal. The anonymous officials explained that the potential for U.S. military force to be used at the canal depends on whether Panama’s security forces agree to work with the United States.
According to the U.S. officials, the Trump administration’s current goal is to increase the presence of U.S. military personnel at the Panama Canal to decrease China’s influence over the critical canal. The officials claimed that Adm. Alvin Holsey, commander of U.S. Southern Command, presented drafts of potential strategies this week to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth prior to Hegseth’s anticipated visit to Panama next month.
The anonymous U.S. officials told NBC News that the use of military force in Panama is not likely and would only be considered if an increased U.S. military presence in Panama did not accomplish Trump’s goal of “reclaiming” the U.S.-built canal.
READ MORE: US ‘will not be providing military aid to Russians,’ Trump admin says
A defense official told NBC News that the U.S. military currently has over 200 troops in Panama, including Special Forces units that work alongside Panama’s security forces to protect the country from a number of internal threats.
Officials told NBC News that potential plans to achieve Trump’s goal in Panama include using the U.S. military to secure various ports in the region, building new ports in Panama, securing safe passage for U.S. ships through the Panama Canal, having the Army Corps of Engineers operate the locks of the canal, or reclaiming U.S. ownership of the canal.
In his address to a joint session of Congress last week, Trump said, “To further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we’ve already started doing it.”
The president explained that the canal was “built by Americans for Americans” and came at a “tremendous cost of American blood and treasure.”
“It was given away by the Carter administration for $1, but that agreement has been violated very severely,” Trump added. “We didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.”