A man, a plan, a canal: Rubio's first trip as secretary of state will take him to Panama
Panama will be one of the first stops for new Secretary of State Marco Rubio as he heads overseas late next week
Panama will be one of the first stops for new Secretary of State Marco Rubio as he heads overseas late next week for the first time as the United States’ top diplomat, meaning he’ll face a unique sort of challenge early in his tenure.
Panama is one of the U.S.’ closest allies in Latin America, but, since December, President Donald Trump has said he wants to take the Panama Canal back from it, arguing in social media posts and rallies, and even in his inauguration speech, that the critical waterway is under the control of China. Both China and Panama have denied any interference in the operations of the canal, which is operated as a neutral waterway.
Other stops on Rubio’s trip will include Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
“If we’re going to be safe and prosperous and in good shape, we have to have an interest in our neighbors and in today’s world, it’s certainly South and Central America,” Bruce told reporters Thursday.
“China is operating the Panama Canal,” Trump said in his inauguration speech Monday. “And we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.”
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