Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to embark on his inaugural official trip abroad next week, focusing on Central America. His itinerary includes a visit to Panama, a country that has recently attracted attention due to former President Donald Trump's controversial remarks about the potential reclamation of the Panama Canal.
Rubio, who is a former senator from Florida and the son of Cuban immigrants, will also travel to El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. According to Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, these destinations reflect both his interest in the region and the necessity of strengthening ties with neighboring countries, especially in terms of addressing illegal migration.
Bruce emphasized that Rubio's visit represents a serious approach to tackling critical issues impacting the United States, specifically the factors contributing to high levels of migration from Central America. She stated, “This is a serious approach by the secretary to deal with the issues that directly affect our ability to get this nation back on her feet and to deal with why there is such high migration.”
The trip is expected to send significant signals both to Central American nations and to the American public. Bruce added that it counters the perception that the "America First" policy is isolationist, highlighting its proactive international engagement stance.
While migration will be the primary topic on Rubio's agenda, his upcoming stop in Panama will likely attract the most attention, given Trump's frequent assertions about retaking control of the canal. Trump has accused Panama of not fulfilling commitments made to then-President Jimmy Carter during the 1977 treaties wherein the U.S. ceded control of the canal. He expressed concerns that operations of the vital waterway have increasingly fallen under Chinese influence, allegations that Panamanian officials have denied.
Rubio's itinerary indicates he will leave late next week, returning to Washington towards the end of the first week in February. This trip marks a critical step in his role as Secretary of State and underscores the administration's focus on international relationships and collaboration to mitigate pressing regional issues.
As the Secretary of State navigates these visits, the implications of U.S. foreign policy in Central America will be closely observed. The outcomes of these discussions may further influence American perceptions about migration and international cooperation within the region.
