Tensions between the United States and Panama have escalated after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Panama about China’s growing influence over the Panama Canal, calling it “unacceptable.”
US Concerns Over Chinese Influence
- During a meeting with Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino and Foreign Minister Javier Martinez in Panama City, Rubio conveyed US President Donald Trump’s concerns regarding the situation.
- State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated:“President Trump has 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.”
- Rubio warned Panama that if immediate changes are not made, the US will take necessary measures to protect its rights under the Treaty of Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal.
Trump’s Strong Remarks on Panama Canal
- During his inaugural address on January 20, President Donald Trump accused China of “operating” the Panama Canal, stating:“The United States spent more money than ever on a project and lost 38 lives in the building of the Panama Canal. We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should never have been made.”
- Trump vowed to “take it back”, claiming the US has been treated unfairly in its historical dealings with the canal.
Panama’s Response to US Threats
- In response, President Mulino firmly rejected Trump’s claims, stating that Panama alone controls the canal:“The Canal is and will continue to operate under Panamanian control with respect for its permanent neutrality. No nation in the world interferes with our administration.”
Rubio’s Strategic Visit to Central America
- Rubio’s visit to Panama marks his first foreign trip as Secretary of State under the Trump administration.
- His tour of Central America—including El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic—is part of Trump’s foreign policy shift to focus on “paying closer attention to our own neighborhood.”
Geopolitical Implications
The Panama Canal is a crucial global trade route, and growing Chinese investments in Panama’s infrastructure have raised concerns in Washington about Beijing’s influence in the Western Hemisphere.
The situation remains tense as Panama reaffirms its sovereignty, while the US considers further action to counter China’s expanding role in the region.