US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit four Central American nations, including Panama, on his first official trip as head of state. The trip comes amid tensions over President Trump’s threats to seize control of the Panama Canal and follows a pattern of increased focus on halting illegal immigration across the US-Mexico border.
Rubio’s plan includes stops in El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic, where he will discuss immigration issues, China’s growing influence in the region, and efforts to combat narcotics trafficking. The trip also reflects Rubio’s longstanding interest in Latin America, having previously served as a Republican leader on US policy towards the region.
The visit to Panama is expected to be high-profile, with Rubio meeting with President José Raúl Mulino and the administrator of the canal. However, tensions remain over Trump’s threat to seize control of the canal, which has been met with resistance from Panamanian leaders who say they are unwilling to discuss transferring ownership.
Rubio’s trip coincides with a visit by Trump’s envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell, to Venezuela, where he plans to meet with President Nicolás Maduro and demand that he take back deported migrants and release Americans wrongfully imprisoned. The move has raised tensions between the two diplomats, with some analysts predicting a clash of views on how to approach Venezuela.
The US government’s focus on immigration and Latin America is seen as part of a broader strategy to shape American diplomacy in the coming years. As Rubio embarks on his first official trip abroad, he will be looking to build relationships with key partners and address pressing regional issues.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/us/politics/rubio-panama-canal-trump.html