Marco Rubio set for Panama trip as Donald Trump pushes to take back canal

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit Panama as part of his trip to Latin America, expected to begin late next week.

This will be Rubio's first overseas visit as the US’s chief diplomat. He is also scheduled to stop in Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, as confirmed by State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Thursday.

Why Rubio's Panama visit is key?

Marco Rubio’s visit to Panama comes as US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for the country to reclaim control of the Panama Canal.


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Rubio’s trip highlights President Trump’s determination to address the canal issue.

Trump suggested in his inauguration speech on Monday that reclaiming the waterway would be a priority for his administration.

Trump claimed Panama had broken its promise to the US and described the 1977 treaty as a “foolish gift that should never have been made.” He argued that the deal's purpose had been “totally violated.”

Migration and deportation

Rubio’s visit also underscores the US President’s focus on halting undocumented migration through Central America, as well as deporting individuals already in the US.

One of the key challenges is finding countries willing to accept deportees, including nations such as Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba, which traditionally refuse such returns.

It should be noted that Mexico has been the largest recipient of US removals over the past decade.

Where did Rubio’s predecessors visit on their first trip?

Usually, the first overseas visit of the US Secretary of State is to a key ally. Antony Blinken, the former Secretary of State, travelled to Japan, while Rex Tillerson visited Germany.

According to the State Department’s official historian, Rubio will be the first US Secretary of State to make Central America his inaugural destination since President William Howard Taft’s top diplomat visited Panama in 1912. At the time, the US was still in the process of building the canal.

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Trump wants the US to regain control of the Panama Canal, at least until the cost of passage for both naval and merchant ships is reduced. He has even accused China of operating the waterway.

Meanwhile, Panama's President José Raúl Mulino has denied any involvement of China in its operations.

FAQs

1. When will Marco Rubio visit Panama?
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to travel to Panama as part of his Latin American tour next week.

2. Why is the Panama Canal important?
The 82-km waterway connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The Panama Canal is critical to US import and export of goods.