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The president of Panama promised Sunday to end a key Development Agreement with China After meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and after the complaints of President Donald Trump that the Latin American country had given control over his critical shipping channel to Beijing.
José Raúl Mulino, president of Panama, said that the sovereignty of his nation on the river of 51 miles, which connects the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, will remain unchanged. But he said that he would not renew a 2017 understanding memorandum to join the China Belt and Road global development initiative and that Panama would seek to work more closely with the United States.
“I think this visit opens the door to build new relations … and try to increase as many American investments in Panama,” Mulino told journalists after meeting with Rubio on his first international trip since he was confirmed.
Rubio, who He was a senator who represents Florida Before Trump took advantage of him to be the main diplomat in the United States, he said that his team is ready to boost the US schedule.
“I had the pleasure of meeting the incredible @usembpan team during my first meeting of the Embassy and greet in my new role as Secretary of State!” Rubio wrote in a publication about X. “Grateful for his dedication and continuous efforts to promote the vision of President Trump of a foreign policy of America First.”
During his visit, Rubio wrote in an X publication that “the United States cannot and will not allow the Chinese communist party to continue its effective and growing control over the Panama Canal area.”
Trump has complained that China exercises control over the channel and charges six -digit premiums in the United States to cross the isthmus of Panama. The channel was built for several decades by the United States and completed in 1914, but Panama was delivered during the Carter Administration.
Triumph He has made the recovery of the Panama Canal a priority in his administration. Republicans of the House of Representatives He introduced a bill for the United States to repurchase the Panama Canal after Trump expressed concern that the critical river route is under Chinese control.
The bill, called the Panama Canal Repurchase, was presented by representative Dusty Johnson, RS.D., member of the China Select Committee and the Transport and Infrastructure Committee of the House of Representatives.
“President Trump is right when considering the repurchase of the Panama Canal,” Johnson said in a statement. “The interest and presence of China around the channel is a matter of concern. The United States must project force abroad: possessing and operating the Panama Canal could be an important step towards a stronger America and a safer balloon” .
Panama announced that he will not renew the Belt and Road initiative with China after Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the country. (Reuters)
If it becomes law, the bill would give the President authority to act in coordination with the Secretary of State to “initiate and carry out negotiations with appropriate counterparts of the Government of the Republic of Panama to React the Panama channel“
President Donald Trump has expressed concern that the Panama Canal is being controlled by China. (Getty images)
The United States Department of State estimates that around 72% of all ships traveling through the Panama Canal come or go to an American port.
By pointing out the strategic importance of the Canal for the United States, Johnson’s office also pointed out how the river route is a key transit point for the United States Coast Guard and the ships of the Department of Defense.
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Without access to the channel, the ships would be forced to travel 8,000 additional miles around South America.
“More than 10,000 ships use the Panama Canal every year, generating billions of dollars that would economically benefit from the United States,” said Johnson’s office.
While the role of the channel and China in the region exceeded the agenda, Rubio had other articles to raise.
“We also discussed efforts to end the mass migration crisis of the hemisphere and guarantee fair competition for US companies,” Rubio added.
Fox News Digital communicated with the State Department, but did not immediately receive an answer.
Danielle Wallace of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is Fox News Digital and Fox Business writer. The advice and ideas of history can be sent to stepny.price@fox.com
