Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Panama's public security minister Frank Abrego hold a press briefing in Panama City, Panama.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Well, thank you very much, Minister Obrego, for being here today and for a very warm welcome.
00:15Admiral Halsey, Commander of Southcom, thank you for your great work, your partnership.
00:21Phenomenal job, you and all the troops down here and throughout the hemisphere.
00:25And, Father, thank you for the blessing of this pier.
00:31What a reminder that Almighty God is truly the commander of all affairs, including today and all the important work we're undertaking.
00:43It is great to be here at Vasco Nunez de Balboa Naval Base.
00:49Our shared roots here run deep.
00:52Once known as Rodman Naval Station, this place has long played a vital role in protecting the canal.
00:59The security of the Panama Canal remains a key national interest of both the United States and Panama.
01:05In 1914, after the first ship sailed through the canal, the U.S. Secretary of War wrote,
01:13The dream of the centuries has become a reality.
01:17This dream, once realized, drove prosperity in our hemisphere.
01:22And to preserve this dream for centuries to come, we must never lose sight of the canal's security.
01:28And today, the Panama Canal faces ongoing threats.
01:32The United States of America will not allow communist China or any other country to threaten the canal's operation or integrity.
01:42To this end, the United States and Panama have done more in recent weeks to strengthen our defense and security cooperation than we have in decades.
01:52That includes our meeting today and announcements to come.
01:58As we speak, U.S.-based military units are involved in joint exercises, planning, and other forms of cooperation with our Panamanian partners on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides of the canal.
02:11And together, we will take bold first steps to revive our defense and security ties between our countries.
02:21Right now, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter will transit the canal, coming up this week, to conduct counter-narcotic operations in the eastern Pacific.
02:32U.S. Coast Guard cutter Kimball is moored in Panama City to conduct a subject matter expert exchange
02:39with personnel from the National Aeronaval Service of Panama, or SINAN.
02:45The USS Chosen, where I'll be tomorrow, is a guided missile cruiser.
02:50It's also docked in Panama City for a port visit as part of CENT-SEC-25, the ongoing conference.
02:57And USS Normandy, another guided missile cruiser, is patrolling off Panama's Caribbean coast.
03:04While there, they are training an embarked team of officers and NCOs from SINAN, Panamanians, again, our partners.
03:14Several aircraft from the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy are visiting Panama to enhance our air and maritime security cooperation.
03:22We have stood up the Joint Security Cooperation Group, Panama, here in Panama City, to coordinate U.S. military activities with our Panamanian partners.
03:34We will also continue to deepen cooperation in the long run.
03:39This includes increased training, exercises, and information sharing between U.S. and Panama security forces.
03:48And in 2026, Panama will host the Multilateral Panamax exercise.
03:57This training will focus on ensuring the free flow of commerce through the Panama Canal.
04:03And finally, this pier, Pier 3, tangibly represents America and Panama's shared commitment to the canal's security.
04:12Thanks to over $5 million in support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, we have refurbished this pier behind us.
04:22These needed infrastructure improvements revitalize this historic facility and strengthen maritime security both in the canal and into the Pacific Ocean.
04:32Our relationship with Panama, especially our security relationship, will continue to grow in the months and years ahead.
04:43Our relationship is growing in part to meet Communist China's rising challenge.
04:50China-based companies continue to control critical infrastructure in the canal area.
04:56That gives China the potential to conduct surveillance activities across Panama.
05:03This makes Panama and the United States less secure, less prosperous, and less sovereign.
05:11And as President Donald Trump has pointed out, that situation is not acceptable.
05:17We are grateful to President Molino, Minister Obrego, and your teams, along with the Panama Canal Authority, for responding to these threats and safeguarding the canal.
05:30President Molino's decision to withdraw from the Belt and Road Initiative reflects his government's clear understanding of China and the threat it poses.
05:41I want to be very clear.
05:44China did not build this canal.
05:46Well, China does not operate this canal, and China will not weaponize this canal.
05:54Together with Panama in the lead, we will keep the canal secure and available for all nations through the deterrent power of the strongest, most effective, and most lethal fighting force in the world.
06:10We will do this in partnership with Panama.
06:14Together, we will take back the Panama Canal from China's influence.
06:20And we will do this, along with other capable, like-minded allies and partners.
06:26This is what peace through strength looks like.
06:30You see, the first time a sitting American president set foot outside of the United States, the first time, was to see the construction of the Panama Canal.
06:40President Teddy Roosevelt spent three days here in November of 1906.
06:45He was here both to inspect the project and to emphasize how important it was to our security and our prosperity.
06:54After his visit, Roosevelt described the canal as one of the great and giant feats of the ages.
07:02Nearly 120 years later, this canal remains a wonder of the world.
07:09And like President Roosevelt, President Trump today recognizes the canal's rightful place as the center of our shared hemisphere.
07:19It connects two continents and two oceans, transporting over $250 billion in goods per year and 40% of U.S. shipping.
07:3270% of the ships that pass through this canal are going to or from U.S. ports.
07:40It saves nearly 8,000 miles for shipping, traveling between our coasts.
07:46There are almost 100 U.S. military vessels each year transit the canal.
07:52This miraculous canal shows what our two nations can achieve together.
07:58We worked together to build this canal.
08:03Workers from both our countries gave their lives during its construction.
08:07We are proud of our shared history and excited for our shared future.
08:14Returning Pier 3 to service today shows how we will continue to work together to secure and preserve that legacy.
08:23God bless. Thank you very much.
08:27And good time.