Source: Financial Times [UK]
“US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth will travel to Panama early this week as Washington increases pressure on the Central American nation for alleged Chinese influence over its famous canal. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to retake control of the Panama Canal, the 110-year-old waterway that handles around 5 per cent of global maritime trade, alleging that a concession for two ports at either end held by Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison posed a national security risk. … Hegseth plans to attend the Central American Security Conference in Panama and is expected on Tuesday to meet President José Raúl Mulino.” [editor’s note: Why spend money on travel? Couldn’t this all be handled via Signal chat? – TLK] (04/07/25)