American troops military training in Panama to protect the channel

US troops have arrived at Panama for military training aimed at protecting the country’s channel, which connects two oceans, the US Embassy said on Thursday, following a bilateral agreement that has caused protests in Central America.
A bilateral agreement, signed in April, allows US troops to settle around the Panama Canal, but not to create grounds, Panamese authorities explained.
US soldiers « will be trained along with Panames security forces in » Jungle Operations « , the US Embassy said in a short statement.
The Embassy explained that the Panama « must approve » the US Army’s entry, « on the basis of rotation and not forever », to carry out training.
Panama signed the security agreement after pressure from President Donald Trump, who has threatened to seize the channel, claiming to be under China’s influence.
This agreement has caused protests from trade unions and other Panames, which consider it a « violation of the country’s sovereignty » and that it is a masked return of military bases.
In recent years, the US military has participated in military training in Panama along with Latin American countries.

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