Rubio meets with Panamanian president as canal drama looms
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday told Panamanian officials that “President Trump has made a preliminary determination that the current position of influence and control of the Chinese Communist Party over the Panama Canal area is a threat to the canal and represents a violation of the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal,” according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
“Secretary Rubio made clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty,” Bruce said in a statement.

Panamanian officials had a different takeaway after the meeting. President José Raúl Mulino said he was sympathetic to some of the Trump administration’s concerns like immigration and Chinese influence, but he appeared unmoved on the issue of the canal. He maintained that the neutrality of the waterway was not in question and also asserted that Panama was also not under threat from the U.S. military.
Describing the meeting, Mulino said he felt respected, that the discussion was not confrontational. He also said that under his leadership, Panama would not renew contracts with Beijing under its Belt and Road initiative and said he encouraged the U.S. to ramp up its own investments in the country.
-ABC News’ Shannon Kingston






