As leaders prepare to gather in Panama for this year’s Central American Security Conference, all eyes are on one topic — the Panama Canal — and the bold statements recently made by President Donald J. Trump.
While the official goal of the conference is to ensure a secure and stable Western Hemisphere, speculation is swirling around what Trump might intend for the canal, which remains one of the world’s most critical trade arteries.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to attend the conference next week, where he will hold bilateral meetings with partners across the region. According to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, the talks will focus on “ongoing efforts to strengthen our partnerships with Panama and other Central American nations toward our shared vision for a peaceful and secure Western Hemisphere.”
Yet despite the official agenda, the buzz surrounding Trump’s comments on the canal has cast a long shadow over the summit. President Trump has repeatedly criticized the 1977 treaty signed by then-President Jimmy Carter that transferred control of the canal from the United States to Panama by the end of 1999 — a move Trump has called “foolish” and short-sighted.
Though no specific policy shift has been announced, and no military action suggested, the mere mention of the canal has stirred debate across the region and within Washington. Trump has long made it clear that American strength and strategic assets should never be handed away lightly — and many now wonder whether his administration is signaling a renewed interest in securing vital infrastructure.
The canal handles roughly 5% of all global maritime trade and serves as a strategic chokepoint for U.S. naval and commercial interests alike. Trump’s rhetoric has once again brought to the forefront concerns about America’s influence — or lack thereof — over such a vital corridor.
As Defense Secretary Hegseth lands in Panama next week, allies and adversaries alike will be watching closely — not just for the outcome of the security conference, but for any sign of what Trump’s next move might be regarding one of the most important waterways on earth.
