Panama City – US State Secretary Marco Rubio on Sunday told Panaman President Jose Raul Mulino that the Central American ally should immediately reduce the Chinese influence on the Panama Canal region or face possible vengeance from the Trump administration.
Rubio on his first foreign trip as the US’s top diplomat, he had a face-to-face conversation with Mulino, who has opposed the pressure of the new US government on the management of a waterway in Panama which is important for global trade.
Mulino told reporters after the meeting that Rubio “did not have any real threat to retreating the canal or using force”.
Speaking on behalf of President Donald Trump, who has demanded that the canal be returned under US control, Rubio told Mulino that Trump has made a preliminary determination that China’s presence in the canal area violates a treaty of a treaty in the canal area This is due to which the waterway of the United States was replaced. For Panama in 1999. The treaty asks for permanent neutrality of the American-made canal, which Rubio planned to visit later on Sunday.
In a summary of the meeting, the State Department said, “Secretary Rubio clarified that this status quo is unacceptable and it is absent that immediate changes, it would require the United States to take necessary measures to protect its rights under the treaty. ”
The statement was unusually blunt in diplomatic terms, but has been determined for foreign policy keeping in mind the tanner and tone trump. Trump is increasing pressure on neighbors and colleagues of Washington, including a canal demand and Saturday announced that he was imposing major tariffs on Canada and Mexico. It inspired vengeance from those close colleagues, began a business war.
Meanwhile, Mulino called Rubio with his conversation with “respectable” and “positive” and said “he did not realize that there was a real threat against the treaty and its legitimacy.”
He admitted that China’s role in the ports at both ends of the canal had raised concerns with Washington. But the President said that the consortium controlling him was being audited and the Canal Authority would give a more detailed explanation to Rubio.
Mulino said that when the Panama ends, it would not renew its agreement with China’s belt and road initiative. Panama joined the initiative that promotes infrastructure and development projects and gives money that critics say that poor member countries should leave heavy indebted for China, as Taiwan’s diplomatic recognition left and Beijing Recognized
On Sunday, around 200 people marched in the capital, took the Panamanian flags and “Marco Rubio of Panama,” “Long Live National Sovereignty” and “One Territory, One Flag”, when the meeting was going on when the meeting was going on. Some people burnt a banner with images of Trump and Rubio after the riot police fell short of the President’s palace.
Rubio also pressured Trump’s top focus – curbing illegal immigration – stating the President of Panama that it was important to cooperate at work and thanked them for withdrawing the migrants. However, Rubio’s visit comes as an American foreign aid freeze and stop-work order, with illegal migration and crime targeted American-funded programs in central American countries.
In a piece of a Wall Street Journal opinion on Friday, Rubio said that the mass migrations, drugs and hostile policies followed by Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela have wreaked havoc, and port facilities at both ends of the canal China -run by the based company, except, except, operated by the China-based company. The waterway is unsafe for pressure from the Beijing government.
Rubio said on Thursday, “The President is very clear that he wants to administration of the canal again.” “Obviously, Panamanians are not a big fan of that idea. That message is very clear. ,
Despite the rejection of the Mulino of any conversation on ownership, some people believe that Panama may be open to an agreement, under which the operation of the canal on both sides is taken away from the Hallson Ports Company in Hong Kong , Which was given 25-year-old no-bid extension. Run them. An audit is already running in the suitability of that extension and can give rise to a ribbing process.
It is unclear whether Trump will fulfill his demands as an American or European company will accept the transfer of concession, which only cover more than operations.
Rubio’s visit, which will take him to Al Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Dominican Republic, comes between a freeze in American foreign aid. The State Department on Sunday said that Rubio had approved exemption for some important programs in those countries, but the details of those people were not available immediately.