Panama waives Canal fees for U.S. ships amid security talks
Ships owned by the United States government will be allowed to transit the Panama Canal without incurring fees, enabling U.S. authorities to save millions of dollars each year. This commitment was made by the government of Panama, as reported in a statement from the U.S. Department of State.
The U.S. Department of State announced on Wednesday via the social media platform X that ships owned by the United States government can transit the Panama Canal without fees.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke on Wednesday with Panama's Minister of Public Security, Frank Abrego, emphasizing that protecting U.S. national security interests is a "top priority." This includes ensuring seamless access to the Panama Canal and safeguarding it from foreign interference.
On February 1, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panama's President, Jose Raul Mulino, in the republic's capital. During the meeting, he stated that the current situation regarding the Panama Canal and Chinese influence in the area is unacceptable to the U.S.
In his inaugural address on January 20, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the United States might take control of the Panama Canal if it deems that Panama is not adhering to the terms of the 1977 treaty. He had previously emphasized that handing over control of this strategically important waterway to Panama in 1999 was a "gesture of cooperation," not a concession.
Panama concedes
President Mulino has announced an audit of the ports near the canal, which Chinese companies manage. He also assured the Panamanian government that the agreement to join China's "Belt and Road" initiative would not be extended starting in 2017.
Large container terminals on both sides of the canal have been operated by Hutchison Ports PPC, headquartered in Hong Kong, since 1997. However, concerns persist that the Beijing government might expand its influence over ports and maritime routes through private Chinese companies, as noted by the dpa agency.
In addition to warships and Coast Guard units, the U.S. government owns many other types of vessels, such as research ships from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ships for hydrographic and topographic studies, icebreakers like the USCGC Polar Star, used by the Coast Guard for navigation and missions in polar regions, and administrative tugs that assist larger vessels in ports.
