Newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to make his first foreign trip to a region of debate in Latin America. Sources familiar with Rubio’s plans told Bloomberg News that the secretary of state will travel to Panama as soon as next week.
The U.S. State Department has yet to confirm Rubio’s travels.
What Trump and Rubio are saying
The trip comes as President Donald Trump called for the U.S. to retake control of the Panama Canal. He cited high fees for naval and merchant ships, among other issues, as reasons to regain control.
The crucial international passageway has raised its rates for all vessels and restricted the number of ships allowed to pass through due to low water levels.
Trump also accused China of operating the canal, a claim refuted by Panama’s president.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said the country has not and will not be relinquishing control of the canal to any other nation, including the U.S.
The Trump administration argued Beijing could use ports controlled by Chinese companies to turn the canal into a “choke point” against America.
Rubio echoed those concerns during his confirmation hearing. He argued potential Chinese control of the canal threatens national and economic security.
“If these companies control both ends of that canal in a time of conflict, and the Chinese tell them, ‘Shut it down and don’t let the U.S. go through there,’ we’ve got a big, big problem,” Rubio said. “A big economic problem and a big national security and defense problem.”
What experts are saying
However, researchers studying Latin America contended these concerns don’t hold up because ships do not have to pass through Chinese ports to enter or exit the canal. They said the ports are only needed for the loading and unloading of goods.
“It would take an act of war” by China to shut down the canal, one researcher said.
More than just Panama
U.S. officials told Politico that Rubio’s trip will also include visits to Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. These countries are major passageways for undocumented immigrants trying to reach the U.S.-Mexico border.
Rubio previously promised to work with countries in the region to curb illegal immigration.
