OPINION_ Rubio’s good start blunting Chinese influence in Panama

WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Rubio’s good start blunting Chinese influence in Panama

By Washington Examiner


The selection of former Sen. Marco Rubio to become the nation’s secretary of state sent the message that shoring up Latin America will be a top priority for the new administration.

Early returns suggest the selection is paying off. Rubio’s trip to Panama, his first stop as the nation’s most senior Cabinet member, delivered a significant concession from the Panamanian government. Following his meeting with Rubio, President Jose Raul Mulino, after months of denying President Donald Trump’s claims that China controlled the Panama Canal, announced that his country will not renew a 2017 infrastructure funding agreement with China.

As a result, Panama will cease participating in China’s Belt and Road Initiative once the current agreement expires in 2027. Mulino even expressed openness to ending the agreement beforehand.

While Panama’s exit from the BRI will not directly involve operations or control of the canal, it is significant on a number of fronts.

For the United States, the Panama Canal is critically important for national security because of its location for commercial and military traffic. China’s partnership with the Panamanian government raised concerns about its influence over the canal, which would enable them to disrupt U.S. commerce, influence toll rates and ship prioritization, and provide economic leverage for China to make strategic gains in the region.

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READ MORE: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/3310152/rubio-good-start-blunting-chinese-influence-panama/

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