Panama’s Opposition Warns of US ‘Camouflaged Invasion’ after Canal Deal

Panamanian opposition politicians accused the US of launching a “camouflaged invasion” of the country over the weekend, furious over a deal that allows the deployment of US troops to the country, the Guardian reported.

Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump confirmed the presence of American troops under a new security agreement decades after the last US bases were closed, Al Jazeera reported.

Last week, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a three-day visit to the country, which led to the signing of a memorandum of understanding and other security pacts aimed at increasing cooperation and securing “the Panama Canal from Chinese influence.”

Hegseth said the deal would secure “first and free” passage for US warships through the Panama Canal and allow troops to operate from three former American bases: Fort Sherman, Rodman Naval Base, and Howard Air Force Base.

He also proposed establishing US military bases in Panama, though he noted such deployments would be contingent on the Panamanian government’s consent. That is unlikely, Panamanian officials said.

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino rejected claims that Panama had agreed to the permanent setup of US bases, calling the deployments temporary and limited.

His administration added that Washington had recognized Panama’s sovereignty over the canal following initial discrepancies in the English and Spanish versions of the communiqué.

The agreement prompted fears from the country’s opposition that it represents a de facto return of US military control over the region.

Opposition leaders denounced the pact as “an invasion without firing a shot,” accusing the government of surrendering sovereignty.

The deal has revived painful memories of the 1989 US invasion – known as “Operation Just Cause” – and raised concerns about a new foreign military presence.

China has criticized the agreement and called for the Panama Canal to remain a neutral international waterway.

The canal is a vital artery for global trade, handling about 40 percent of US container traffic and five percent of world commerce.