BREAKING: Rubio Threatens Panama

Red Alert Breaking News

(TheRedAlertNews.com) – In a powerful start to his first foreign trip, the new U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio threatened Panama to reduce China’s influence over the nation’s vital canal, reflecting the Trump administration’s hardline stance.

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This strategic tug-of-war underscores the U.S.’s unwavering resolve to protect its interests against China’s expanding global reach.

Panama’s response, however, raises questions about how this geopolitical saga will unfold.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Panama, emphasizing the urgency of curtailing Chinese influence over the Panama Canal.

This marks Rubio’s inaugural foreign trip, underscoring the gravity of the issue for the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump has called for the canal to be returned to U.S. control, citing concerns over a treaty violation due to China’s presence.

Rubio warned that if Panama fails to act, the U.S. might resort to countermeasures, The Boston Herald reports.

President Trump criticized Panama’s audit concession on the canal as insufficient.

Rubio shared Trump’s concerns about China’s potential to disrupt operations during a U.S.-China conflict.

The administration insists that the current situation is “unacceptable” and may necessitate U.S. action to protect treaty rights, reports The Guardian.

Protests greeted Rubio’s visit, with demonstrators in Panama City advocating for national sovereignty.

They burned banners of Trump and Rubio, expressing discontent with external pressure.

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino emphasized the nation’s sovereignty over the canal and denounced Trump’s demands.

“To the imperial messenger, we reiterate that there is absolutely nothing here for Trump. Panama is a free and sovereign nation,” said local union leader Saul Mendez.

President Mulino acknowledged concerns about the canal’s administration by a Chinese consortium and mentioned an ongoing audit.

However, Panama intends not to renew its agreement with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which critics accuse of indebting nations.

Trump’s aggressive foreign policy, reminiscent of early U.S. tactics in Latin America, seeks to realign the western hemisphere’s geopolitics.

Rubio’s wider Latin American agenda includes tackling illegal immigration, despite funding freezes for related U.S. aid programs.

These diplomatic moves signal the administration’s firm stance on protecting American interests against China’s challenge.

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