Rubio signaled Trump's unwillingness to maintain the status quo in the Panama Canal

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a meeting with Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino said that the American leader Donald Trump does not intend to maintain the status quo in the Panama Canal due to the increased influence of China in the region. This was reported on February 2 by the press service of the US State Department.

"Secretary of State Rubio informed President Mullin that President Trump has tentatively decided that the current position of the Chinese Communist Party with regard to influence and control over the Panama Canal is a threat to the canal and is a violation of the Treaty on Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal," - stated in the message.

It is specified that Rubio called the corresponding state of affairs unacceptable and Washington will have to take the necessary protective measures in case the situation does not change.

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Earlier, on January 23, Bloomberg agency reported that Rubio plans to visit Panama after the promises of American President Donald Trump to return control over the Panama Canal.

Prior to that, on Jan. 20, Trump reiterated the thesis at his inauguration that the Panama Canal is "run" by China and therefore the U.S. intends to "take back" the waterway. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino again rejected the Republican's statements on the subject and emphasized the canal's belonging to his country.

On December 22, 2024, Trump said that the U.S. will demand to regain control of the Panama Canal if the Central American republic does not renegotiate the terms of its use.