Summary
Pete Hegseth, Trump’s newly appointed Secretary of Defense, suggested military action could be on the table for securing U.S. control over the Panama Canal and Greenland.
In a Fox News interview, he warned that the U.S. would ensure “freedom of navigation” in Panama, while vaguely addressing Trump’s strategic interest in Greenland.
His confirmation hearing earlier this month raised concerns when he refused to rule out military action.
Critics worry his stance signals Trump’s willingness to provoke conflicts with allies over geopolitical ambitions.
A lot of shipping has actually been going around the long way. Ships are simply large enough that they get more profit from that than from being small enough to fit in the Panama Canal.