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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Lolita C. Baldor

Hegseth is to travel to Panama for meetings following Trump's demands for the canal

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel to Panama next week to meet with leaders of the Central American country following recent Trump administration allegations of Chinese interference in the operations of the critical Panama Canal shipping lane.

President Donald Trump has complained about the U.S. relinquishing control of the waterway to Panama more than 20 years ago and has threatened to retake it, arguing that the U.S. was being overcharged for using it. Panama’s government has denied Trump's assertion that China exerts influence over the canal.

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