Secretary of State Marco Rubio embarks on his inaugural overseas trip as the nation’s chief diplomat this Saturday. His first destination on this six-day journey is Panama, where he will pursue President Donald Trump’s geopolitical strategy.
In his inaugural address, Trump expressed his intention to “take back” the Panama Canal. During a recent press briefing, Special Envoy for Latin America, Mauricio Claver-Carone, emphasized that Rubio’s primary objective for this trip is to restore a “Golden Age” for America.
“This trip signifies… that era of American greatness and the Golden Age,” Claver-Carone stated, adding that “the 21st century will also be an American century.”
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Claver-Carone noted that Rubio’s visit to Latin America marks the first time a Secretary of State has made the region their initial official trip abroad in over a century.
“The last instance was in 1912 when Philander Chase Knox traveled to Panama… to oversee the completion and operations of the Panama Canal,” he informed reporters. “What a powerful message to revive that Golden Age of the Americas, as President Trump himself has mentioned.”
Rubio is scheduled to confer with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino.
The discussions are expected to address migration issues, combatting drug trafficking, and China’s influence in the Panama Canal. Rubio and Trump have previously asserted that Chinese companies operating at both ends of this vital waterway have taken control.
The Trump administration has contended that the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) stronghold over all Chinese enterprises means that they could potentially disrupt U.S. trade by closing the canal, presenting a significant security risk.
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President Mulino has consistently rejected claims that Chinese companies wield any influence over the Panama Canal’s operations and stated on Thursday that he would not be discussing ownership of the canal with Rubio.
“It’s impossible, I can’t negotiate,” Mulino remarked during a Thursday press conference when questioned about discussing control of the canal, as reported by The Associated Press. “That is settled. The canal is owned by Panama.”
Mulino suggested that the confusion surrounding canal control stemmed from his predecessor, who severed ties with Taiwan and established relations with China in 2017, ultimately allowing a Hong Kong consortium to manage ports at both ends of the canal.
Panama asserts that it maintains control over the canal.
Claver-Carone argued that Chinese companies dominate “everything from force and logistics to telecommunications, infrastructure, and beyond,” which poses not only a security threat to U.S. interests in the canal but also to the national security of Panama and the entire Western Hemisphere.
Rubio is also set to visit El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic, where he will meet with the presidents of each country before returning to the U.S. on Thursday.
Addressing Chinese influence in these nations, along with gang violence, migration, and drug trafficking, will also be high on Rubio’s agenda.
