America isn’t going to take a backseat any longer. Under Trump, our armed forces will be strong.
And now these leaked invasion plans exposed where the U.S. military may strike next.
Trump Eyes Bold Move to Reclaim Panama Canal
President Donald Trump has set his sights on a dramatic geopolitical play, reportedly directing the U.S. military to devise plans for retaking the Panama Canal and curbing China’s growing influence in the region. The initiative, led by United States Southern Command, signals a potential shift in America’s approach to a waterway it once built and controlled.
According to NBC News, the military’s options range widely—from collaborating with Panama’s security forces to a full-on U.S. takeover by force. Officials stress that the extent of military involvement hinges on Panama’s response to U.S. demands, placing the Central American nation at a crossroads in its dealings with Washington.
Strategic Options Take Shape
Adm. Alvin Holsey, head of Southern Command, is driving the effort, having “presented draft strategies to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week,” per the report.
While a complete U.S. seizure of Panama isn’t off the table, insiders say it’s a last resort—likely only if a beefed-up American military presence fails to wrest the canal from what Trump sees as foreign encroachment.
Trump frames the push as a reclamation mission, rooted in national security. “It was given away by the Carter administration for $1, but that agreement has been violated very severely,” he told Congress last week.
“We didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.” His words echo a resolve to restore U.S. dominance over a canal it funded and engineered over a century ago.
China’s Shadow Looms Large
Behind the scenes, Trump’s been vocal with advisors about the need for a visible U.S. military footprint in Panama, NBC notes: “Privately, Trump has told his advisers that he sees a U.S. military presence in Panama and on the canal itself as critical to that effort, the U.S. officials said. Trump has also made it clear that he wants U.S. service members to be visible in the canal zone as a show of force.” It’s a flex aimed squarely at Beijing’s expanding reach.
Administration officials argue China’s foothold near the canal poses a strategic risk.
“Trump administration officials have argued that China has too large a presence near the canal. In the event of a conflict, they say, Beijing could shut down the canal to American shipping, including military ships,” the report states. The fear is that China could choke off a vital artery for U.S. commerce and defense.
A Long Game in Play
The concern isn’t new. Last year, then-Southern Command chief Gen. Laura Richardson warned the House Armed Services Committee about China’s global ambitions.
“The PRC [People’s Republic of China] messages its investments as peaceful, but in fact, many serve as points of future multi-domain access for the PLA [People’s Liberation Army] and strategic naval chokepoints,” she said.
“In Panama, PRC-controlled State-Owned Enterprises, SOEs, continue to bid on projects related to the Panama Canal — a global strategic chokepoint.”
For Trump, reclaiming the canal isn’t just about history—it’s about countering a rival’s “long game” with a decisive American stand. As Southern Command refines its plans, the administration’s next steps could reshape power dynamics in a region where the U.S. once reigned supreme, all while testing Panama’s willingness to align with Trump’s vision.
