The U.S. and Panama have expanded their partnership to secure the Panama Canal, aimed at countering China’s influence in the region. This move was announced by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Panama Canal History
The Panama Canal was constructed by the United States in the early 20th century and completed in 1914. For most of the century, it was operated by the US, but in 1977, Jimmy Carter signed treaties with Panama that paved the way for the canal’s handover to Panama in 1999. The treaties included the Neutrality Treaty, which gave the U.S. military the right to defend the canal if there is ever a threat to its neutrality, and the Panama Canal Treaty, which dissolved the Canal Zone and transferred the canal to Panama by the end of 1999.
The Panama Canal is considered one of the greatest civil engineering achievements of the 20th century, ranking among the 7 greatest by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
On April 8, 2025, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced during a visit to Panama that the U.S. would “take back” the Panama Canal from Chinese influence, emphasizing that China would not be allowed to use the canal for espionage.1 This announcement was part of a broader effort to reduce Chinese influence in the region and was made in response to concerns raised by President Donald Trump about Chinese control over the canal.
Panama Canal Construction Summary
The Panama Canal, initially proposed by Charles V in 1534, was finally completed in 1914 after a decade-long effort by the United States. The construction process was massive, with over 55,000 workers employed and an estimated 5,600 deaths due to injury and disease. The most challenging section, the Culebra Cut, was a 9-mile stretch through the Continental Divide, where workers faced extreme heat, humidity, and deadly landslides.
The construction of the Panama Canal was a monumental task that claimed the lives of approximately 25,000 workers. It’s construction was marked by a high mortality rate among workers, primarily due to tropical diseases such as malaria and yellow fever.
- Malaria: This disease was a significant cause of death among workers. Malaria is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, which thrived in the standing water pools and swamps around the construction sites. Despite efforts to control the mosquito population, malaria continued to be a problem throughout the construction period.
- Yellow Fever: Another major cause of death, yellow fever was transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The disease was particularly devastating during the French attempt to build the canal (1880s), leading to the death of over 22,000 workers. When the United States took over the project in 1904, Colonel William Gorgas implemented a comprehensive mosquito control program, which significantly reduced the incidence of yellow fever.
- Other Diseases and Conditions: Dysentery and other infectious diseases also contributed to the high mortality rate. The challenging environment, including poor living conditions and inadequate medical facilities, exacerbated the spread of these diseases.
- French Era: During the French attempt to build the canal, an estimated 22,000 workers died, many from malaria and yellow fever.
- US Era: When the United States took over the project in 1904, the death toll was significantly reduced due to improved health measures and mosquito control. However, an estimated 5,600 workers still died from injury and disease during the US construction period.
The implementation of effective health and sanitation measures, particularly the control of mosquito-borne diseases, was crucial in reducing the mortality rate and ensuring the successful completion of the Panama Canal.
Panama Canal Construction Summary
The Panama Canal, initially proposed by Charles V in 1534, was finally completed in 1914 after a decade-long effort by the United States. The construction process was massive, with over 55,000 workers employed and an estimated 5,600 deaths due to injury and disease. The most challenging section, the Culebra Cut, was a 9-mile stretch through the Continental Divide, where workers faced extreme heat, humidity, and deadly landslides.
Key Factors in the Canal’s Completion
- Colonel William C. Gorgas’ effective prevention and control program for yellow fever and malaria, which virtually eliminated the diseases and reduced the toll of malaria.
- Strictly enforced measures, including draining sources of standing water, applying larvicides, and screening windows.
You can read more about this following the Links below.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8314810
https://www.asce.org/Content.aspx?id=2147487311
https://www.history.com/articles/panama-canal-return-panama-treaties-carter
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