Panama City: Under a new agreement between Washington and Panama, U.S. military will be allowed to use a series of military bases along the Panama Canal for training and other operations, part of President Donald Trump’s promotion of influence on strategic waterways.

The agreement, signed by the top security officials of the two countries, allows U.S. military personnel to deploy to Panama-controlled facilities for training, practice and “other activities.”

The deal no longer allows the United States to establish its own permanent foundation in the isthmus, a move that will be unpopular among Panamanians and legally.

However, it gives the United States a wide range of powers to deploy unspecified personnel to bases, some of which Washington built when it occupied the canal area decades ago.

Since returning to power in January, Trump has repeatedly claimed that China has had too much influence on the canal, which handles about 40% of container shipments, accounting for five percent of global trade.

His administration has promised to “retrieve” control of strategic waterways funded, built and controlled by the United States until 1999.

The United States has long participated in military exercises in Panama.

However, long-term rotational force – a similar rotational force maintained by the U.S. in Darwin, Australia, may prove to be politically toxic.

“Nation on Fire”

Mulino was in Peru on Thursday, where he revealed that the U.S. asked for its own base.

Mourino said he told Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth that the U.S. base allowed in the earlier draft was “unacceptable.”

He warned Heggs: “Do you want to make a mess? What we put here will set the country on fire.”

Panama received its own offer in a “Memorandum of Understanding” signed by Heggs and Panama’s head of security Frankábrego.

The United States recognizes Panama’s sovereignty – not a given that Trump refuses to exclude after the invasion, Panama will retain control over any device.

Panama also needs to approve any deployments.

But this may have little comfort to the worried Panamanians given Trump’s willingness to tear or rewrite trade deals, treaties and agreements.

The country has established a long and complex relationship with the United States.

Despite the U.S. occupation of the canal area and the U.S. invasion, they jointly overthrew the dictator Manuel Noriega.

The invasion killed more than 500 Panamanians and razed them to the ground.

Trump’s oath to retake the canal and his claims of China’s influence sparked massive demonstrations.

By law, Panama operates the canal and has public access to all countries.

However, the U.S. president has zeroed in on the role of a Hong Kong company that has been around for decades at either end of the canal (which connects the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean).

Under pressure from the White House, Panama accused Panama Port Company of failing to meet its contractual obligations and urged the company to withdraw from the country.

The port’s parent company, CK Hutchison, announced last month that an agreement would unload a consortium led by U.S. asset manager Blackrock in 23 countries, including its two ports on the Panama Canal, led by $19 billion in cash.

After that, the angered Beijing announced an antitrust review of the deal.