A bulk carrier and a cargo ship transit the Panama Canal in Panama City on March 12, 2026. Matias Delacroix/AP Photo
The top U.S. naval officer warned against Chinese influence around the Panama Canal during regional talks in Panama, calling access to the route vital for security and trade.
Adm. Daryl Caudle made the remarks while attending the Inter-American Naval Conference in Panama City, where naval leaders from across the Americas gathered to discuss maritime security and cooperation.
