U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the leaders of Panama on Sunday that the Central American country must take immediate action on curbing China’s influence over the Panama Canal area or the United States will get involved.
Rubio is on his first overseas trip as America’s top diplomat. In addition to Panama, he is scheduled to visit El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic this week.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks after being sworn in on Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
International
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On Sunday, Rubio spoke with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino and Foreign Minister Javier MartÃnez-Acha. He told them that President Trump “has made a preliminary determination that the current position of influence and control of the Chinese Communist Party over the Panama Canal area is a threat to the canal,”
