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Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set make his first diplomatic trip as secretary of State to Panama and several Central American and Caribbean nations.

Some shit you should know before you read: Over the last month, relations between the United States and Panama have become increasingly strained due to President Trump’s criticism of Panama’s control over the Panama Canal. Trump has accused Panama of overcharging US companies and the US Navy for use of the canal, calling it a violation of the 1977 treaty that handed control of the waterway to Panama. He also claimed that Chinese companies, which manage two of Panama’s five major ports, effectively control critical parts of the canal and could turn it into a geopoliticalchoke pointin times of conflict. Trump has gone so far as to suggest that the US could retake control of the canal, including the potential use of force. These statements have drawn pushback from Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino, who has rejected Trump’s claims, insisting that the canal remains fully under Panamanian sovereignty and operates as a neutral international waterway.  

Panama

What’s going on now: According to multiple news outlets citing sources in the State Department, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will embark on his first official diplomatic trip, which will take him to Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. A key focus of the trip will be Rubio’s stop in Panama, where tensions have risen over Trump’s statements about retaking operational control of the Panama Canal. Rubio is expected to meet with Panamanian officials to discuss canal operations, US-Panama relations, and potential security and trade implications tied to the canal’s strategic importance.  

Rubio State Departmetn Photo

Rubio has also echoed Trump’s concerns during his confirmation hearing, calling the canal a “direct threat” to US national security if foreign powers (like China) gain control.

Rubio’s trip to the region comes as the Trump administration has shown interest in curbing illegal migration and has vowed to carry out the largest deportation effort in US history. Secretary Rubio will likely have to negotiate formal agreements with Central American nations to accept deportees under Trump’s expanded immigration policies.

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