First visit abroad since taking office, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in Panama

The American top diplomat will hold meetings in El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, while ending the tour Thursday.

Mr. Rubio will meet with Panama President Jose Raul Mulino, President Nayib Boule of El Salvador, Costa Rica President Rodrigo Chaves, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo and President Louis Abiader of the Dominican Republic.

This diplomatic tour marks the first case in more than 100 years so that the first official visit of a new American diplomat abroad is exactly Latin America, according to special American envoy for Latin America Maurizio Clover-Carone.

Officials and experts say Secretary Rubio's visit is partly intended to defeat China's growing influence in that region. The American diplomacy chief's trip comes as President Donald Trump tries to regain control of the Panama Canal, and Washington intensifys efforts to curb illegal immigration.

“Aggression of Secretary Rubio with senior officials and business executives will boost regional co-operation in terms of our basic common interests. The ban on illegal migration on large scale, the fight against international criminal organisations and drug traffickers, the fight against China and deepening economic partnerships to increase prosperity in our Ibrahimx1>, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said through a statement Friday.

President Trump says China controls the Panama Canal, an important trade route connecting Atlantic and Pacific. Panama has rejected the American claim, insisting that it manages the channel impartially for all maritime traffic.

Secretary Rubio warned days ago that in the event of a conflict China may block access to the Panama Canal.

If the Chinese government, in case of conflict, tells them to close down the Panama Canal, they will have to do it. I have no doubt that they have a plan to do this in case of an emergency. This is a direct threat”, Mr. Rubio said in an interview with Radio SiriusXM.

Panama President Jose Raul Mulino said there will be no discussion with the U.S. head diplomat about control of the channel.

“I cannot negotiate and less open a negotiation process for channel”, he told the press Thursday. “It's a closed case. The channel belongs to Panama”.

American Special Envoy for Latin America Clever-Carone warned during a press conference Friday of the addition of Chinese companies in the Panama Canal region, including portive industry and telecommunications infrastructure. He said it is a serious concern not only for the national security of the United States but also for Panama and the Western Hemisphere.

Some analysts say China has used economic and economic tactics across the Western hemisphere to expand its influence, which has caused concerns for national security.

“From the standpoint of national security, many of Chinese commercial efforts are essentially military ambitions targeting Latin America”, says Joseph Humierre with “Center for a Safe and Free Society”, briefly SFS.

“Kina has been present in Panama for 20 years, but Beijing was politically activated in Panama in 2017”, when Panama signed the <x2 agreement with China. > Belt a street” and recognised Taiwan as part of China, says Mr. Humire. He said Panama's economy has declined in recent years. / VOA