Rubio Scheduled To Visit Panama
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is wasting no time in setting the tone for his tenure as America’s top diplomat, with plans to visit Panama as his first international trip. The visit, which could happen as early as next week, signals that the Trump administration’s foreign policy is off to an assertive and focused start, prioritizing issues that have long been on the backburner.
This isn’t just a routine diplomatic visit—it’s a clear message that the United States intends to reassert itself in the Western Hemisphere, with Panama and the strategically vital canal at the heart of that effort.
President Donald Trump, freshly back in the White House, has already drawn a line in the sand, highlighting the Panama Canal during his inaugural address on Monday. His statement, “China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back,” has reignited a decades-old debate over American influence in the region.
While technically true that Panama, not China, controls the canal, Trump’s comments reflect growing concerns about Beijing’s expanding economic and strategic footprint in Central America, including Panama. Chinese state-run companies have made significant investments in ports, logistics, and other critical infrastructure around the canal—raising alarms in Washington about potential leverage over one of the most vital waterways in the world.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino was quick to push back, rejecting Trump’s remarks outright and asserting Panama’s sovereignty over the canal. His forceful response isn’t surprising, but it’s unlikely to deter Trump or Rubio, who seem determined to revisit America’s role in safeguarding the canal and preventing it from becoming yet another pawn in China’s global power games.
For Secretary Rubio, this trip is more than a symbolic gesture. It’s a calculated move to reestablish U.S. influence in a region that has been largely neglected by previous administrations. As Rubio has already outlined, addressing migration, economic growth, and supply chain vulnerabilities will be central to his foreign policy agenda. By starting in Panama, Rubio is setting a precedent: the U.S. is turning its attention back to its neighbors and will no longer allow outside powers to dominate the Western Hemisphere.
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce reinforced this focus, stating that Rubio’s approach prioritizes the region as a critical component of U.S. foreign policy. She emphasized that engagement with Central and South America isn’t just about goodwill; it’s a practical necessity for tackling challenges like mass migration and economic interdependence.
Indeed, Rubio’s trip may include stops in Guatemala and El Salvador, where discussions will likely center on addressing the root causes of migration and promoting stability in a region plagued by corruption, violence, and economic hardship.
While the Panama Canal is the headliner, this trip represents a broader strategy to push back against China’s growing influence and reassert American strength in a region where U.S. leadership has waned. China’s Belt and Road Initiative has made significant inroads in Latin America, and Beijing’s investments in critical infrastructure like ports, energy, and communications have not gone unnoticed. Rubio’s visit sends a strong signal to both Panama and the rest of the region: the U.S. is back, and it’s not willing to cede its backyard to foreign powers.