Rubio says that Trump’s interest in the Greenland and Panama Canal is motivated by concerns in China

Washington (AP) – Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump’s desire to acquire Greenland And regain control of the Panama Canal is motivated by legitimate national security interests resulting from increasing concerns concerning Chinese activity and influence in the Arctic and Latin America.

Before a Travel to Central America It will start in Panama this weekend, Rubio said Thursday that he could not predict if Trump would succeed in buying Greenland in Denmark or restoring American Authority on the Panama Canal While he is office. But he said that the attention that Trump will give to both would have an impact.

“What I think you can be assured is that in four years, our interest in the Arctic will be safer; Our interest in the Panama canal will be safer, “said Rubio in an interview with the host of Siriusxm, Megyn Kelly.

Rubio will arrive in Panama on Saturday during his first official trip to the official foreigner as the first American diplomat, signaling the importance on which he and Trump place secure the channel. Although immigration is a major conversation subject in Panama and its other judgments, Rubio said that the channel problem was a priority.

Chinese investments in ports and other infrastructures and installations at the ends of the Pacific and the Caribbean of the canal are a major concern, leaving Panama and the Vulnerable Critical Expedition route to China, he said.

“They are everywhere in Panama,” said Rubio about Chinese companies that many experts think they are indebted to the government in Beijing and features orders to cut or limit traffic to the channel in the event of a conflict with Taiwan or An unleashed unleashing of relations with the United States

“If the government in China in a conflict told them to close the Panama canal, they will have to do so,” he said. “I have no doubt that they have the planning of the contingency to do so, it is a direct threat.”

Rubio added that “if China wanted to hinder traffic in the Panama Canal, they could” and it would be a violation of the 1977 Treaty signed by former President Jimmy Carter under which the United States has given control of the American channel in Panama in 1999.

He also echoed Trump’s complaint that US ships are overcharged for the use of the canal, which would also be a violation of the treaty.

“We must not be able to pay more than other countries. In fact, we should get a discount or maybe for free, because we have paid for it, “he said.

Earlier Thursday, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said there would be no negotiation with the United States about the Panama Canal’s property and that he hoped that Rubio’s visit would rather be on Shared interests such as migration and the fight against drug trafficking.

“It is impossible, I cannot negotiate,” said Mulino when he asked him about the return of the canal to the United States. “It’s done. The canal belongs to Panama. »»

But Rubio said it would be discussed.

“We are going to tackle this subject,” he said. “The president was clear enough that he wants to administer the channel again. Obviously, the Panamanians are not big fans of this idea. This message was very clear. »»

In Greenland, he said that Denmark, of which Greenland is a part, had the capacity to defend Greenland against China while he seeks to acquire a presence in the Arctic to exploit the shipping channels.

And as Greenland is already covered by the NATO mutual defense pact because of its relationship with Denmark, it is logical that the United States has greater presence and authority there.

“If we are already about to have to do this, we could just as easily have more control over what is going on there. I know this is a delicate subject for Denmark, but it is still an element of national interest in the United States, “said Rubio.