Defense Secretary's Visit to Panama and Focus on Panama Canal

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is heading to Panama for a two-day visit to attend the 2025 Central American Security Conference and meet with American troops stationed there. The conference will focus on regional defense through joint operations and cybersecurity. President Donald Trump has called on Panama to give the U.S. better terms on access to the Panama Canal, which is of vital importance for American military and commercial shipping.

China's Military Activity Around Taiwan

China's secretive military appears to be conducting training exercises around Taiwan, deploying a dozen naval ships and 47 military planes without live-fire activity. Taiwan is monitoring the situation closely, as China's activities signal a message of claiming ownership over the Taiwan Strait.