Panama Canal

Socialist Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva welcomed his Panamanian counterpart José Raúl Mulino on Thursday to sign several bilateral agreement and support Panama’s control of the Panama Canal.

China and Brazil signed a memorandum of understanding, Chinese state media reported on Wednesday, to explore the possibility of jointly building a transcontinental railroad from the east coast of Brazil to the west coast of Peru – directly to a port funded and partially owned by Beijing.

U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Cabrera on Thursday said that the United States is working together with Panama to eliminate “China’s malign influence” in the Panama Canal.

President Donald Trump called for military and commercial ships from the United States to be able to travel through the Suez and Panama Canals without facing a fee, and added that he had directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take care of the issue.

On this week’s broadcast of “Sunday Morning Futures,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said President Donald Trump is stopping the Chinese government from taking over the Panama Canal.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday in Panama delivered a clear message: the United States and Panama would take back the Panama Canal from China’s influence.

Comptroller General of Panama Anel Flores on Monday announced that he would file a criminal complaint against Panama Ports Company (PPC), a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Hutchison Port Holdings, on accusations of breach of contract over the two ports it manages at the Panama Canal.

Kevin Cabrera, President Donald Trump’s nomination as the next U.S. ambassador to Panama, said Tuesday during his confirmation hearing in Congress that China’s influence in Panama extends beyond the canal’s ports.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked defense officials to “provide credible military options to ensure fair and unfettered US military and commercial access to the Panama Canal,” according to reports.

President of Panama José Raúl Mulino on Wednesday morning accused President Donald Trump of “lying again” after Trump reiterated his call to take back control of the Panama Canal in a speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.

Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings Limited announced Tuesday asset manager BlackRock has agreed to buy a majority stake of its subsidiary that operates two ports at the Panama Canal for $23 billion.

Attorney General of Panama Luis Carlos Gómez said on Wednesday that a decades-long contract awarded to Panama Ports Company (PPC), a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Hutchison Port Holdings, to operate two ports in the Panama Canal is “unconstitutional,” local outlets reported.

The Panama Canal Authority refuted a U.S. accusation that Panama Canal staff must go through Chinese security to get to their place of work.

The Chinese government held a meeting with Bolivia’s top diplomat this week as part of a campaign to undo the damage to its reputation and interests in Latin America caused by Secretary of State Marco Rubio making his first international tour in the position to countries there vulnerable to Chinese influence.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry berated the administration of President Donald Trump, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in particular, on Friday for addressing the threat of Chinese regime influence during a tour to Central America and the Caribbean this week.

The president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, said the U.S. Department of State’s claim about Panama Canal fees was false.

The Department of State announced on Wednesday that United States government vessels would be allowed to travel through the Panama Canal without facing “charge fees.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested in a meeting with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino on Sunday that the administration of President Donald Trump may move to seize the Panama Canal on the grounds that the Panamanian government has violated the agreement that gives the country control over the waterway.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio succeeded in convincing Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino to opt out of renewing its agreement with China regarding the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

President Donald Trump doubled down on the United States retaking the Panama Canal, stating that Panama had “violated the agreement” between the two countries.

President José Raúl Mulino of Panama told reporters on Thursday that any negotiation to return the Panama Canal to American control was “impossible” and that he could “not negotiate” on the issue, as it was a matter of the core sovereignty of the country.

Amidst everything else he’s doing, President Donald Trump is  changing America’s footprint in the world—it’s getting much bigger.

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton claimed Friday on CNN’s “Newsroom” that President Donald Trump talking about taking back the Panama Canal and not ruling out using military force “makes us look ridiculous.”

The government of Panama announced on Tuesday that it sent a formal letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressing its “concerns” over President Donald Trump’s statements on having the United States retake control of the Panama Canal.

Twice-failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton laughed when President Donald Trump announced during his speech that they will be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

Chinese influence on the Panama Canal is a “national security problem,” Erik Prince, veteran and founder of Unplugged Technologies, said during an appearance on Breitbart News Saturday.

There is no danger in exploring a purchase of the Panama Canal, Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) said during an appearance on Breitbart News Saturday, discussing President-elect Donald Trump’s ideas and his status as the “quintessential deal maker.”

The U.S. purchase of the Panama Canal could decrease Chinese influence globally, Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD), who introduced the Panama Canal Repurchase Act, said during an appearance on Breitbart News Saturday.

President-elect Donald Trump has expressed a strong interest in acquiring control of the Panama Canal, potentially by force if necessary.

Conservative President of Panamá José Raúl Mulino stated on Tuesday that he will not respond to President-elect Donald Trump’s statement on taking control of the Panama Canal until Trump takes office on January 20.

A Republican Congressman plans to introduce a bill that would authorize President-elect Donald Trump to buy and re-take the Panama Canal.

President-elect Donald Trump said during a preview of policies for his second administration on Tuesday that he would not rule out the use of economic pressure, or even military force, to obtain control of Greenland and the Panama Canal. 

Representative Sarah McBride (D-DE) said Tuesday on CNN’s “The Situation Room” that President-elect Donald Trump’s comments about Greenland and Panama are “fostering more instability globally.”

CNN political analyst Maggie Haberman said Tuesday on “Anderson Cooper 360” that President-elect Donald Trump is “clearly in an expansionist mindset” while discussing a desire to acquire Greenland from Denmark or seize the Panama Canal during his press conference.

President-elect Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that he would rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.”