Secretary of State Marco Rubio warns Panama's president about Chinese influence over the Panama Canal
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino in Panama over the weekend, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a readout of their meeting.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino in Panama over the weekend, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a readout of their meeting.
Rubio told Mulino about President Donald Trump’s concern regarding Chinese influence over the Panama Canal and said Rubio “made clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty,” Bruce said.
At a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate, during the presidential transition period, Trump did not rule out using military force to gain control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, which he outlined as two of his goals for his second term.
Mulino has denied that China has control over the canal, which is governed and operated by the Panama Canal Authority.
The canal used to be owned and operated by the United States, but it slowly shifted control to Panama in the late 20th century, releasing its grip on the canal totally by 1999.
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