February 2, 2025 - Panama City: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino on Sunday, urging immediate actions to counter perceived Chinese influence over the Panama Canal. According to a State Department statement, Rubio expressed that the current situation is unacceptable and warned that the U.S. may have to exercise its rights under the Panama Canal Treaty if changes are not made.
During the meeting at the presidential palace, Rubio conveyed that President Donald Trump views the Chinese Communist Party's influence in the canal area as a threat. The U.S. claims this influence violates the Treaty Relating to the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal.
The Panamanian government has firmly rejected any notion of ceding control of the canal to China, asserting that it operates the canal fairly. Mulino characterized the discussions as respectful, emphasizing Panama's sovereignty and denying any imminent threat of U.S. military action to reclaim control of the canal.
In addition to the canal discussions, the two leaders addressed migration management, with Rubio thanking Mulino for his support of U.S.-funded deportation flights from Panama to migrants' home countries. The meeting also touched on regional leadership, with Rubio praising Mulino's stance in support of a free and democratic Venezuela.