The agenda of the first Rubio visit to Panama will contain the issue of China’s influence

The influence of China in Panama will be a key topic on the agenda during Marco Rubio’s first visit to South America as U.S. Secretary of State, according to Mauricio Claver-Carone, the U.S. Special Envoy for Latin America, who made the announcement on Friday.

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“The trip will begin in Panama, where the Secretary will, of course, meet with President (of Panama, José Raúl) Mulino. We will also visit the Panama Canal and meet with its administrator… The influence of China in Panama will be a subject of discussion,” Claver-Carone stated during a special briefing.

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Rubio is set to begin his first overseas trip as Secretary of State on Saturday, starting in Panama before traveling to El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic, as previously announced by the State Department.

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Earlier, Rubio expressed concerns that China, through its companies, could potentially use the Panama Canal as a strategic tool for leverage in the event of a conflict, posing a threat to U.S. national security. This issue is expected to be a focal point of discussions during his visit.