On Sunday, February 2, Marco Rubio made his first trip as secretary of state to Panama, an ally of the United States in Central America, but one with which Donald Trump has sparked controversy. In December 2024, the US president surprised many by expressing his desire to see his country take back the Panama Canal, using force if necessary. The US dug this path between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at the start of the 20th century, then administered it until the end of 1999 before handing over control to Panama in exchange for a commitment to the neutrality of this strategic waterway for world trade.
Rubio confirmed these threats during his meeting with Panama’s head of state, José Raul Mulino. “I met with Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino and Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez to make clear that the United States cannot, and will not, allow the Chinese Communist Party to continue with its effective and growing control over the Panama Canal area,” he wrote on X. This first statement by the secretary of state clarifies US intentions. Although Trump has complained about unfair trade conditions for his country, it is the security issue and China’s alleged influence that concern him most.
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