Feb 5 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

and Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino agreed to expand

cooperation between the U.S. military and Panama's security

forces during a call on Wednesday, the Pentagon said, in the

wake of a dispute over the Panama Canal.

"They agreed on the strong relationship and many security

interests that the United States and Panama share, to include

safeguarding the Panama Canal," a Pentagon spokesperson said.

After talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier

this week, Mulino said his country's broad agreement to

contribute to China's Belt and Road initiative will not be

renewed, and could be terminated early.

(Reporting by Costas Pitas)