President Trump has sparked controversy by calling for the U.S. to 'take back control' of the Panama Canal, alleging Chinese influence. This has become a focal point as Secretary of State Marco Rubio embarks on his first overseas trip, prioritizing Latin America. Rubio will visit Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic, aiming to address concerns over China's growing presence and strengthen U.S. ties in the region.
At a mere 51 miles long, the Panama Canal may seem small, but it's mighty, linking together the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for more than 110 years now. While the U.S. financed construction of the canal, a treaty signed in 1977 gave Panama control of the canal starting in the year 2000, on the condition that the canal would remain neutral. However, President Trump thinks that neutrality has been violated. In recent remarks this month to a gathering of House Republicans in Miami, he said the U.
S. should try to 'take back control' of the canal, claiming it is being run by China. 'It's become a hot subject because China essentially has taken it over, and we're not going to let that happen,' President Trump said. 'We're not going to let that happen.' During a Senate Commerce hearing in late January on the Panama Canal, Republican Senators echoed those sentiments. 'President Trump has highlighted two key issue,' said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. 'Number one: the danger of China exploiting or blocking passage through the canal. And number two: the exorbitant costs for transit.' Panama's president, though, said it is his country that controls the canal. 'The Panama Canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong to Panama,' said José Raul Mulino, president of Panama. With that backdrop, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will head to Panama - one of five stops in the Western hemisphere - during his first trip overseas. 'This is not a joke,' Sec. Rubio said during his confirmation hearing in January. 'The Panama Canal issue is very serious.' During his confirmation hearing, Rubio also expressed concern over China's influence around the canal. 'Chinese companies control port facilities at both ends of the canal,' Rubio said. 'The concern, some military and security officials, including in Panama at that point, that could one day be used as a choke point to impede commerce in a moment of conflict.' Chris Hernandez-Roy is deputy director of The Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He said the canal will almost certainly come up during Rubio's visit to Panama. 'The issue is going to come up because it's on the top of the President's mind and his Secretary of State has to communicate the president's desires and concerns,' Hernandez-Roy said. 'It will come up also from the Panamanian side, who would like to have some clarity as to what 'taking it back' means.' Hernandez-Roy said that, years ago, the traditional first trip of a U.S. Secretary of State would be to Canada. However, Sec. Rubio — who is Cuban-American and speaks fluent Spanish — may be leading a shift in how the U.S. engages with Latin America. 'I've been working on Latin American affairs for almost three decades now, and I can't tell you the many, many, many, many times over the years that various officials in Latin America have lamented the fact that the United States just doesn't pay enough attention to the region,' Hernandez-Roy said. 'Well, I think now they're going to get what they've long asked for, which will certainly have some positive benefits for them, but also will create some challenges.' In addition to Panama, Sec. Rubio will be heading to four other countries in the hemisphere: Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Immigration is a topic that is expected to be discussed during some of the stops, but so will economic issues. China is making major inroads in Latin America, by investing in things like infrastructure projects. Experts say that, in order to counter that, the U.S. needs to offer some of those countries an alternative
PANAMA CANAL CHINA UNITED STATES LATIN AMERICA MARCO RUBIO PRESIDENT TRUMP INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ECONOMICS
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Rubio: Trump's Greenland and Panama Canal Ambitions Driven by National Security ConcernsUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio defends President Trump's desire to acquire Greenland and reclaim control of the Panama Canal, citing national security interests amid growing Chinese influence.
Read more »
Panama marks Martyrs' Day as Trump threatens to retake control of Panama CanalA Panamanian national holiday remembering the killing of 21 protesters by police and U.S. troops in 1964 is taking on new resonance this year as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump threatens to take back control of the Panama Canal.
Read more »
Panama Marks Martyrs' Day Amid Trump's Panama Canal RhetoricPanama commemorates Martyrs' Day, remembering the killing of 21 protesters by U.S. troops in 1964, as President-elect Donald Trump's comments about the Panama Canal raise concerns.
Read more »
Panama President Rejects Trump's Claim to Panama CanalPanama's President José Raúl Mulino vehemently rejected President Donald Trump's assertion that the U.S. would 'take back' the Panama Canal during his inaugural address. Mulino reaffirmed Panama's sovereignty over the canal, stating it would remain under Panamanian control as stipulated by the Torrijos-Carter Treaty of 1977.
Read more »
Panama Rebuts Trump's Threats Over Panama CanalPanama formally rejected Donald Trump's statements regarding the recovery of the Panama Canal, reminding him of the UN Charter's prohibition against threats or use of force against any state's territorial integrity or independence.
Read more »
Panama Rejects Trump's Panama Canal Claims in UN LetterFollowing President Trump's inauguration speech, Panama has formally rejected his threats to reclaim the Panama Canal, citing concerns about its sovereignty and the U.N. Charter. The Panamanian president affirmed the canal's ownership by Panama and warned against any use of force or threats against the country's territorial integrity.
Read more »