Secretary of State Marco Rubio is gearing up for his first international tour, with Panama on his itinerary, amid rising tensions over the Panama Canal.
What Occurred: Rubio’s inaugural international journey as Secretary of State may even embody Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. Nevertheless, these plans are nonetheless tentative, in line with officers aware of the matter, reported Politico.
This go to, which might reportedly happen as early as subsequent week, follows President Donald Trump’s controversial remarks hinting on the U.S. probably reclaiming the Panama Canal. These feedback have sparked a diplomatic spat with Panama. “The Panama Canal belongs to Panama and can proceed to belong to Panama,” asserted Panama’s President, José Raúl Mulino, on the World Financial Discussion board earlier this week.
Throughout his tour, Rubio is predicted to deal with two essential points on the MAGA international coverage agenda: unlawful migration and the Panama Canal. The international locations on Rubio’s journey checklist, together with Guatemala and El Salvador, are key transit factors for migrants heading to the U.S. southern border.
In a latest memo to State Division staff, Rubio underscored mass migration as “amongst probably the most consequential problems with our time” and dedicated to collaborating with Western Hemisphere nations to stem unlawful immigration.
The State Division has not but commented on Rubio’s impending journey.
Why It Issues: The controversy over the Panama Canal has been brewing for a while. In January, Trump refused to rule out using navy power to regain management of the canal, citing financial safety.
Trump’s feedback sparked backlash from Panama’s President Mulino, who asserted Panama’s possession of the canal in December.
Trump’s menace to grab the canal, which generates $2.5 billion in annual income for Panama and handles 5% of world maritime commerce, has raised considerations about potential disruption to worldwide commerce.
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