Secretary of State Marco Rubio has scored a big win for President Trump on his trip to Panama.
In a meeting with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino and Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha on Sunday, Rubio outlined America’s position on the Panama Canal.
According to a State Department summary of their discussion, Rubio informed them that Trump had “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.”
Rubio added that China’s presence across the canal represents a breach of a a treaty signed by the U.S. and Panama in 1977 that it would remain neutral.
“Secretary 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,” spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.
I met with Panamanian President @JoseRaulMulino and Foreign Minister @javierachapma to make clear that the United States cannot, and will not, allow the Chinese Communist Party to continue with its effective and growing control over the Panama Canal area. We also discussed… pic.twitter.com/Hj0pXGahqk
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) February 2, 2025
Following the meeting, Mulino confirmed that he would not renew Panama’s involvement in China’s Silk Road initiative and would consider trying to withdraw before its renewal.
“I believe that this visit opens a way to build a new stage of relations, that is how I see it, that is how I felt it on the part of Secretary Marco Rubio and at the same time try as far as possible to increase U.S. investments in Panama,” Mulino said.
BREAKING: The President of Panama just terminated Panama’s agreement with China immediately after meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“I believe that this visit opens a way to build a new stage of relations, that is how I see it, that is how I felt it on the part of… pic.twitter.com/UxNXFMExCS
— George (@BehizyTweets) February 2, 2025
Since his victory last November, Trump has repeatedly warned that Panama has violated the promises it made to the U.S. when President Jimmy Carter agreed to hand it over.
He also accused Panama of profiting from the U.S. by charging excessively high toll fees.
When asked by reporters last month whether he would rule out military action in order to retake the canal, Trump said he would not.
The Panama Canal was built for our military,” he said. “I’m not going to commit to that now.”
”It might be that you’ll have to do something. Look, the Panama Canal is vital to our country. It’s being operated by China.”
