Below is attributable to the spokesperson Tammy Bruce:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio today met Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino and Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha in the city of Panama to meet critical regional and global challenges. Secretary Rubio informed President Mulino and Minister Martínez-Acha that President Trump decided preliminary that the current position of Chinese Communist Party Influence and Control on the Panama Canal is a threat to the channel and represents a Violation of the treaty concerning permanent neutrality and the functioning of the Panama Canal. Secretary Rubio clearly indicated that this status quo was unacceptable and that in the absence of immediate changes, it would force the United States to take necessary measures to protect its rights under the treaty.
Secretary Rubio also stressed the importance of collaboration efforts to end the hemisphere illegal migration crisis and thanked President Mulino for supporting a joint repatriation program, which reduced illegal migration to through the Darien Gap. The secretary highlighted the desire to improve the investment climate and guarantee fair playground for fair competition from American companies. The secretary also congratulated the regional leadership of President Mulino in support of a democratic and free Venezuela.
Secretary Rubio expressed his gratitude for productive discussion and underlined the dedication of the United States to make the two nations safer, stronger and more prosperous. He noted that this meeting indicates an important step in revitalizing the strategic relationship between the United States and Panama, in accordance with the vision of President Trump.
