On Sunday, the President of Panama pledged to end a key Development with China After meeting with Foreign Minister Marco Rubio and after complaints from President Donald Trump that the Latin American country had abandoned the decisive shipping channel to Beijing.
Panama, President of Panama, said that his nation’s sovereignty over the 51 -mile waterway, which connects the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean, will remain unchanged. But he said that he will not renew a memorandum of understanding for the year 2017 to join the global development initiative of Chinese belt and roads, and that Panama will instead look closely at the United States.
“I think this visit opens the door to build new relationships … and try to increase the largest possible number of American investments in Panama,” Mulino told reporters after a meeting with Rubio on his first international trip since her assertion.
Rubio, from Senator represented Florida Before Trump took advantage of him to be the best diplomat in America, he said his team was ready to pay the US agenda.
“It was Sorri to meet the amazing USmbas team during my first embassy to meet and greet in the new league as minister of state!” Rubio wrote in a post on X. “” Gentle for their dedication and ongoing efforts to enhance President Trump's vision of the first foreign policy of America. “
During his visit, Rubio wrote in a post on X that “the United States cannot, and will not allow the Communist Party to continue its effective and increasing control over the Panama Channel area.”
Trump has complained that China is exercising the channel and imposing fees on American ships of six installments to cross Panama Nazih. The channel was built over several decades by the United States and completed in 1914, but it was delivered to Panama during the Carter administration.
Trump He made the ownership of the Panama channel a priority in its administration. Republicans in the House of Representatives It submitted a draft law for the United States to re -buy the Panama channel after Trump raised fears that the critical waterway is under Chinese control.
The draft law, which was called the Panama Channel Re -purchasing law, was introduced by MP Dusty Johnson, RS. , He is a member of the Committee for China and the Transport and Infrastructure Committee in the House of Representatives.
“President Trump is right to think about reformulating the Panama Channel,” Johnson said in a statement. “China's interest in the channel and its presence around the channel is a cause of anxiety. America must be a power of power abroad – the possession and operation of the Panama channel may be an important step towards America is stronger and safer.”
Panama announced that it will not renew the belt and road initiative with China after Foreign Minister Marco Rubio visited the country. (Reuters)
If it becomes a law, the draft law will give the president the authority to act in coordination with the Foreign Minister “to start and negotiate with their appropriate counterparts for the government of the Republic of Panama Recover the Panama channel“
President Donald Trump has expressed concern that the Panama channel is under the control of China. (Getty Images)
The US State Department estimates about 72 % of all ships that are transmitted via Panama channel or goes from an American port.
Noting the strategic importance of the United States channel, Johnson's office also indicated how the waterway is a major crossing point for the US Coast Guard and the Ministry of Defense.
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Without accessing the channel, the ships will have to travel an additional 8,000 miles around South America.
Johnson's office said: “More than 10,000 Panama channel ships use every year, generating billions of dollars from fees that will benefit America economically,” said Johnson's office.
While the channel and the role of China in the region topped the agenda, Rubio had other elements to raise it.
“We also discussed the efforts made to end the mass immigration crisis in the hemisphere and ensure fair competition for American companies.”
Fox News Digital communicated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but it did not receive a response immediately.
Daniel Wallace from Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is the writer of Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to Stepheny.price@fox.com
