According to an official statement, the Pentagon chief will be received tomorrow at the Palacio de las Garzas (seat of the Executive) by the host president José Raúl Mulino; and will also hold talks with the Minister of Security, Frank Ábrego, among other high officials.

Hegseth arrives to Panama after the visit of Secretary of State Marco Rubio on February 1; and then the head of the Southern Command, Admiral Alvin Holsey; in the midst of threats from US President Donald Trump to retake Panama’s Canal, due to an alleged Chinese interference, which local authorities denied.

Hegseth’s agenda also includes a tour of the inter-oceanic waterway and meetings with civilian, military and security leaders of the partner countries that will be at the Conference, in view of a growing presence of uniformed personnel in the capital participating in the Panamax 2025 exercises, as justified by the Executive.

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