US Secretary of State Rubio's First Overseas Trip to Panama Met with Controversy
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World
February 2, 2025 05:30
panama - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced backlash during his first overseas trip to Panama for focusing on shared interests rather than Panama Canal ownership.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's First Overseas Trip
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's decision to visit Panama as his first stop on a five-country tour in Latin America sparked controversy. President Trump's remarks claiming 'Panama will be ours' were met with opposition from Panama's President José Raúl Mulino, who stated that there would be no negotiations regarding the ownership of the Panama Canal. Rubio aims to focus on issues such as migration and drug trafficking during his visits, despite protests against the US potentially seizing control of the Panama Canal. After Panama, Rubio is scheduled to visit El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic, marking the first time in over 100 years that a US Secretary of State has chosen Latin America for their inaugural overseas trip.