US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has conveyed to Panama’s President that the nation must mitigate perceived Chinese influence over the Panama Canal or potentially face reprisals from the United States.
The remarks were delivered during an in-person discussion with Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino this past Sunday.
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This marked Mr. Rubio’s inaugural international journey as the nation’s chief diplomat and comes amidst Mr. Mulino’s previous resistance to US pressure.
President Trump had earlier insisted on the canal being reinstated under US oversight and has continuously raised concerns about China’s involvement in the region.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second from right, engages with Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, left.
Pic: AP/Mark Schiefelbein
Concerns regarding China’s impact on the canal originate from two ports on either end operated by the publicly traded Hong Kong company, CK Hutchinson.
“Secretary Rubio emphasized that the current situation is intolerable and that without prompt reforms, it would necessitate the United States taking actions to uphold its rights under the treaty,” the State Department stated in a summary of their discussions.
Representing Mr. Trump, Mr. Rubio articulated that the US President deemed China’s involvement in the canal’s vicinity as a violation of the treaty that resulted in the US relinquishing control of the waterway to Panama in 1999. This treaty mandates the canal’s enduring neutrality.
“I do not perceive a legitimate threat to the treaty or its legitimacy,” Mr. Mulino remarked following his discussion with Mr. Rubio.
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The canal, a vital artery for global commerce, has become a significant point of contention for the new US administration.
Mr. Mulino described the meeting as “constructive” and stated it helped “alleviate uncertainties”.
He admitted that China’s role in the ports at either end of the canal had raised alarms in Washington.
However, Mr. Mulino noted that the consortium managing these ports is currently undergoing an audit, and the canal authority plans to provide US officials with a more comprehensive explanation.
He also asserted that Panama would not extend its agreement with China’s Belt and Road Initiative upon its expiration.
A woman demonstrates during protests amid Mr. Rubio’s visit.
Pic: Reuters/Maria Fernanda Gonzalez
Around 200 individuals marched through Panama City in opposition to Mr. Rubio’s visit, chanting “Marco Rubio out of Panama” and “long live national sovereignty”.
Some protestors set fire to a banner depicting Mr. Trump and Mr. Rubio.
Post-meeting, Mr. Mulino indicated that Panama might agree to accept direct deportations from the US of non-Panamanian migrants who traverse the Darien Gap jungle along Panama’s southern boundary with Colombia.
However, he stressed that the US would need to assume the associated costs.
“We had an in-depth discussion regarding the issue of migration, recognizing that Panama serves as a transit hub,” Mr. Mulino remarked after the discussions.
