The Trump administration has formally asked the Pentagon for “credible military options” to ensure the United States’ unrestricted access to the Panama Canal. This request is part of a significant shift in U.S. strategic priorities, according to a memorandum sent to top officials.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that the U.S. must regain control of the canal, mentioning it even in his recent speech before Congress. Now, his administration has officially requested potential military options to achieve this, according to the document signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Among the orders that the Pentagon must implement immediately is to “provide credible military options to ensure fair and unrestricted U.S. military and commercial access to the Panama Canal,” according to a copy of the memorandum.
Titled Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance, the document marks a notable shift in the Pentagon’s priorities compared to the 2022 National Defense Strategy. It aligns with Trump’s policies, such as deploying military forces to the border, strengthening the U.S. presence in the Western Hemisphere, and focusing on China.
The document also emphasizes that the U.S. Army’s “top priority” is defending the homeland. In this regard, it orders the Pentagon to reinforce the borders to curb illegal migration, drug trafficking, smuggling, and human trafficking. It also directs collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security to deport undocumented immigrants.
Trump has made it clear that he wants to shift military efforts toward border security, and this new directive cements that as his administration’s primary focus.
Controversy with Panama
The order to assess military options for securing U.S. access to the Panama Canal raises questions and potential conflicts.
Last week, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino accused Trump of lying when he claimed in his congressional speech that the U.S. was already in the process of reclaiming the canal.
A day after Trump’s speech, Mulino wrote on X: “Once again, President Trump is lying. The Panama Canal is not in the process of being reclaimed, nor has this issue been discussed in our conversations with Secretary Rubio or any other U.S. official.”
The Panamanian president strongly rejected Trump’s remarks on behalf of his country, calling them an affront to the truth and to Panama’s national dignity.
Trump’s comments came after U.S. firm BlackRock and a group of investors announced a deal to acquire two ports at each end of the canal from a Hong Kong-based company. The ownership of these ports had become a point of concern for Trump.
Since its transfer in 1999, the canal has been operated by Panama—not China—despite Trump’s claims. However, the Pentagon memorandum’s reference to military options reinforces his administration’s stance on control of the canal.
Changes in Foreign Policy
The document also signals a reduction of U.S. military presence in Europe and a limitation of aid to Ukraine.
“The American people want allies, not dependents,” Hegseth wrote.
Trump has urged NATO countries to increase their defense spending to 5% of their GDP—a figure that Hegseth reiterated during his first official visit to Brussels. Currently, only Poland spends more than 4%, while the U.S. allocates less than 3.5% of its GDP to defense.
Hegseth called for NATO to take over the conventional defense of Europe, including leading efforts to arm Ukraine. The U.S., meanwhile, would provide “extended nuclear deterrence” while committing conventional forces only when they are not required domestically or in the Indo-Pacific region.
This stance closely mirrors the recommendations from the Project 2025 report by the Heritage Foundation, in which former Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller proposed reducing the U.S. military footprint in Europe and focusing on nuclear deterrence.
Some of Trump’s top allies, including senior advisor Elon Musk, have even suggested that the U.S. should withdraw from NATO entirely. Over the weekend, Musk voiced his support for leaving NATO, stating on social media: “We really should. It makes no sense for the U.S. to pay for Europe’s defense.”
However, these demands for burden-sharing and reduced U.S. involvement do not apply to Israel or Sunni Arab states. In fact, Hegseth’s guidance calls for the U.S. to “provide military aid” to Israel and “continue arming Gulf partners” as part of a broader strategy to strengthen deterrence in the region.
The Pentagon is also pushing for greater military cooperation between Israel and Sunni Gulf states. While such cooperation is rarely made public due to diplomatic sensitivities, it was evident during the joint defense of Israel against an Iranian missile attack last April.
Trump has also worked to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, following the Abraham Accords that established ties between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.
