The United States is negotiating with Panama for toll-free transit of its naval vessels through the Panama Canal, challenging sovereign agreements and escalating regional tensions amid concerns over China’s influence.

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The U.S. government is actively negotiating with Panama to secure free passage for its military vessels through the Panama Canal, a strategic waterway vital for global trade and military mobility. According to U.S. Ambassador Kevin Cabrera, Washington considers it “absurd” to pay transit fees when U.S. forces claim to protect the canal’s security.

This demand directly challenges the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which guarantee equal treatment and fee payment for all nations using the canal, regardless of military or commercial status.

Panama’s Canal Authority, represented by Subadministrator Ilya Espino de Marotta, firmly rejected any proposal to waive tolls for U.S. military ships, emphasizing that the canal’s fee structure remains equitable and non-discriminatory.

Panamanian officials insist that any changes to the toll system must be decided by the Panamanian government itself and must respect the nation’s sovereignty and international agreements. This stance reflects Panama’s resistance to U.S. attempts to regain control over the canal, a symbol of national pride and autonomy since the end of U.S. administration in 1999.

The push for free passage is part of a broader U.S. strategy to counter China’s growing presence in Latin America, particularly its investments in Panamanian ports. Ambassador Cabrera and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have publicly criticized Beijing’s “malign influence” and economic ambitions in the region.

During my meeting with @ThePanamaCanal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez and Canal Minister @jricazac, I highlighted the importance of ensuring U.S. government vessels transit the Canal first and free, in line with our treaty obligation to protect the Canal’s neutrality and…

— Embajador Kevin Marino Cabrera (@USAmbassadorPAN) May 21, 2025

Despite denials from Panama about any Chinese operational control over the canal, the U.S. has intensified military cooperation with Panama, including agreements granting U.S. warships priority and toll-free passage, and proposals to reestablish military bases,moves that have been met with firm rejection by Panamanian authorities concerned about sovereignty violations.

This escalating militarization and diplomatic pressure reflect the Trump administration’s aggressive posture toward Latin America, aiming to reassert U.S. dominance over strategic infrastructure while undermining China’s legitimate economic partnerships.

The Bolivarian perspective condemns these maneuvers as neocolonial attempts that threaten regional peace, sovereignty, and the principles of international law enshrined in the Torrijos-Carter Treaties.

The ongoing negotiations and military posturing around the Panama Canal reveal a critical geopolitical contest in Latin America, where U.S. imperial ambitions clash with the sovereignty and self-determination of nations like Panama. The Bolivarian government stands in solidarity with Panama’s defense of its rights and calls for regional unity against external interventions that destabilize peace and development.

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