The highest diplomat in the Administration of President Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, began his first foreign visit on Sunday, meeting with President Panama Jose Raul Mulin.
In order to discuss the concerns of the United States regarding Chinese companies that could affect the access of American shipping around the Panama channel and regional migration issues.
The American Foreign Minister visits Central America and the Caribbean on his first trip in a new role, trying to redirect American diplomacy towards the Western Hemisphere – partly to collect assistance in combating migration towards the southern border of the United States. Trump started his second term of office 20. January.
The visit also reflects the desire of the United States to oppose the growing diplomatic influence of China in Latin America. Trump, after re-taking the president’s office, threatened to take control of the Panama channel, who built the United States at the beginning of 20. centuries and submitted to Panama according to the 1977 agreement, claiming that the channel managed China. This comments followed the public opponent, and Panama rejected Trump’s threats.
China stated that there is no role in channel management and respecting the sovereignty and independence of the Panama regarding that waterway.
The channel manages Panama Canal Authority, an autonomous agency under the supervision of the Panama government.
Rubio, a long-term opponent of China in his Senate Career, last week that China could use the ports to close the canal, the vital route for the American shipping, in case of conflict between Beijing and Washington.
Rubio met with Mulina in the presidential residence in Panama City. Rubio and his delegation then held talks with Mulin, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Javier Martínez-Achom Vásquez and other Panama officials. None of the Party gave the media statements before the meeting.
Mulino said that the ownership of the canal is not a topic in conversations with Rubi.
Rubio also plans to discuss migration issues in Panama, working with the United States to prevent migration through the Daryian gap, the route of the Panama southern border with Colombia, which they use drug traffickers and drug traffickers.
Rubio ordered the State Department to put migration issues in the center of his diplomacy with the countries in the region. Officials said that Rubio would take advantage of this visit to facilitate the acceptance of US deportation flights in the region.
(Vijesti.ba)
