This is John Batchel, a conversation with Professor Evan Ellis of the U.S. Army War College, my colleague, about the visit by the Secretary of Defense, Mr. Hegeseth, the first Secretary of Defense to visit Panama in many years, to speak with members of the government, and also to view what it is a developing story of the U.S.

looking to provide security for the Panama State because the Chinese are very suspiciously

surrounding a deal for the ports by private enterprise BlackRock.

At the same time, there is reason to believe there's lots of money

influencing decisions in Panama by the Chinese,

building bridges and roads, making promises.

Secretary Hague says, made a statement afterwards we were looking to work together.

That could very well involve security.

That's on the ground security.

Much more to learn.

Here's Evan Ellis's explanation for what we know so far

than a detail about the statement given out afterwards,

one in Spanish, one in English, and the difference.

Evan Ellis, U.S. Army War College, much more of this tonight.

Now, Secretary of Defense Higgsath, who just came down this week to Panama, he met with

their Minister of Public Security, Frank

Abrigo. He met with the Panaman president, Joseo Molino, and others. He was accompanied by the head of

U.S. Southern Command, Admiral Halsey. The statements, of course, that he made, talked about a series

of things. You know, one was made, talked about a series of things.

You know, one was working together.

And so it was interesting that in the Spanish version of the joint statement, they talked about, supposedly, Secretary Higseff had recognized Panaman and sovereignty over the canal.

In the English language version,

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