In brief
During his first meeting as Secretary of State, Marco Rubio signaled a tougher stance on China’s influence in Panama, stating that the U.S. may need to take measures to safeguard rights under the treaty, while Panama's leader downplayed threats of intervention.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio ramped up the Trump administration's rhetoric concerning the Panama Canal, stating in a meeting with President José Raúl Mulino that immediate actions are necessary to counteract increasing Chinese influence over the vital waterway. This meeting, held in Panama City on Sunday, marked Rubio's initial engagement with a foreign leader since assuming the role of Secretary of State.According to the State Department's account, Rubio informed Mulino that President Trump has determined that China's governmental presence and control over the Panama Canal poses a significant threat, urging for "immediate changes." However, Mulino offered a contrasting view after their discussion, asserting that he perceived no imminent threat of the U.S. reclaiming the canal.Trump, when addressing reporters at Joint Base Andrews, echoed a more forceful stance, indicating that the U.S. could take significant actions regarding the canal's status, stating, “we’re going to take it back, or something very powerful is going to happen.” The summary provided by State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized that Rubio made it clear the current arrangement is untenable, and that the U.S. would consider measures to protect its treaty rights if immediate adjustments were not met.While specific measures were not clarified, earlier statements implied military options were not off the table. When asked last month if he would eliminate military action in response to reclaiming the canal, Trump remained non-committal, keeping open the possibility of forceful involvement as part of U.S. strategies in the region.
