Marco Rubio warned that the US will take measures if Panama does not make “immediate changes” on the channel
Marco Rubio He warned this Sunday to Panama that the United States government will take measures if the Central American country does not make “immediate changes” in the Panama Canalclaiming that he has violated the transfer treaty.
When meeting with the president José Raúl Mulinothe US Secretary of State “made it clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that, in the absence of immediate changes, it would require the United States to take the necessary measures to protect their rights under the treaty,” said state department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce
Rubio told Mulino that President Donald Trump “has made a preliminary determination that The current position of influence and control of the Chinese Communist Party on the Panama Canal area is a threat to the channel And it represents a violation of the treaty related to the permanent neutrality and functioning of the Panama Canal, ”said Bruce.
Panamanian President, meanwhile, informed that at the meeting with the US Secretary of State, he transferred that “Panama’s sovereignty is not in question.”
This was detailed by the president in a press appearance after this Sunday’s meeting.
“There is no doubt that the channel is operated by our country and so it will continue to be,” said the president.
Before his arrival in Panama, Rubio, the first Hispanic to occupy the maximum diplomatic position of the country, said in an article in The Wall Street Journal that his trip reinforces the priority of the Trump administration to focus on the region. “It is no accident that my first trip abroad keeps me in the hemisphere“, wrote.
Among the central themes of your agenda are the control of the irregular migrationthe fight against drug trafficking and the growing influence of China In Latin America.
At this last point, Rubio will transmit to the leaders of the region the intention of Trump of Retake the control of the Panama Canaldelivered to the Panamanian authorities in 1999 after the signing of the Torrijos-Carter Treaty in 1977.
Mulinorejected any possibility of negotiation on the sovereignty of the channel.
However, Rubio said in an interview with Siriusxm that the Trump government considers that the channel administration represents a Strategic interest before the presence of Chinese investments in the infrastructure of the interoceanic pathway. Also, the official warned that China could block traffic on the channelwhich, according to him, would violate the 1977 Treaty.
The company Hutchison Portsbased in Hong KongIt has the concession to operate port terminals at both ends of the channel and recently received an extension for 25 years without tender. Currently, an audit is underway to evaluate the viability of this extension, which could open the door to a New concession process.
Analysts suggest that, although Panama refuses Transfer the concession of operations To an American or European company, which could mitigate Washington’s concerns. However, It is not clear if Trump would accept this measure as enough.
After passing through Panama, Rubio will visit El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Dominican Republicwhere he will address security and immigration cooperation issues.
