Sec Def Pete Hegseth was on “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo and discussed China’s influence over the Panama Canal.
Secretary Hegseth made a trip to Panama and met with government officials last week.
“Tell us about the trip and what are the most important takeaways that we need to understand about the Panama Canal?” Bartiromo asked.
“President Trump said in his State of the Union address, China has too much influence over the Panama Canal and America is gonna take it back,” Hegseth said.
“Chinese influence cannot control our own backyard, especially a critical waterway key terrain like the Panama Canal,” Hegseth said.
Secretary Hegseth also explained that the US was able to make some very important gains in securing the Panama Canal for US interests.
“We were able to secure two historic agreements, one with the Panama Canal authority, that our ships, our military vessels, and auxiliary vessels will travel first and free through that Panama Canal,” Hegseth said.
“We also signed a memorandum of understanding with the defense secretary over there and the president that established the robust and growing US presence,” Hegseth continued.
“If we can’t use that waterway in a key contingency, then China has an advantage,” Hegseth warned.
Sec Def Hegseth also said that Panama’s president has been supportive of President Trump and his policies for the Panama Canal.
“I want to thank President Mulino, a pro-Trump, pro-America President of Panama who is sticking his neck out against communists,” Hegseth continued.
Bartiromo explained that when she spoke to President Trump last month, he told her that China’s influence was evident with the signs that were in the area.
“When I spoke with President Trump in an interview last month, he said that all the signage around the Canal was all in Chinese. When you are going into in it’s all Chinese signs. When you are coming out of it, there is all Chinese signs,” Bartiromo said.
Hegseth explained that the Chinese were building a tunnel underneath the Canal.
“They are building a tunnel underneath the Canal they are paying for. What could that be used for? Surveillance of submarines, of ships? ” Hegseth warned.
“Removing signage is not enough. You’ve got to remove the insidious influence,” Hegseth said of the Chinese communist influence of the Canal.
Watch:
Today, exclusively on @SundayFutures with @MariaBartiromo, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth @SecDef @PeteHegseth spoke about the Trump administration confronting China’s influence at the Panama Canal.@FoxNews pic.twitter.com/fVJdFMGYOo
— SundayMorningFutures (@SundayFutures) April 13, 2025
The post Sec Def Pete Hegseth Speaks with Maria Bartiromo After His Trip to Panama: “Chinese Influence Cannot Control Our Own Backyard” (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.