The Panamanian people will never tolerate full U.S. sovereignty over their canal. Yet Washington must lock in American corporate control of the Panama Canal to prevent China from seizing control of hemispheric trade routes and ports across Latin America.

In the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, the pro-independence movement accelerated after the 2019 “Ricky Renuncia” protests. Recent polls show sovereignty options tied, with statehood at 44%, while 41% of voters aged 18 to 34 favor independence. Alongside this, a growing surge in anti-American sentiment there threatens recently reactivated military facilities such as Roosevelt Roads, which host critical F-35 operations. The Dominican Republic is a reliable partner within the Shield of the Americas framework; however, no single ally can secure every maritime corridor against sophisticated threats. Washington, therefore, requires a reliable forward Caribbean territory not only to interdict cocaine flows but also to dismantle the regional Islamic terrorist networks.