Rubio visited Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic in his first journey overseas as secretary of state.
Newly sworn-in Secretary of State Marco Rubio returned to the USA on Feb. 7, concluding a five-nation tour of Central America and the Caribbean.
Rubio made stops in Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. The journey was Rubio’s first since taking workplace and as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to extend border safety, deport unlawful immigrants, and bolster U.S. ties within the Western Hemisphere.
“The Western Hemisphere has, sadly, been missed all through the years. At instances, lots of our regional allies felt like they had been higher off being our enemies. That’s now not the case,” Rubio mentioned in a video message earlier than setting out for the journey.
Rubio urged elevated collaboration between the USA and its neighbors to the south.
“Our mutual bilateral priorities may help finish the period of unlawful mass migration, obtain financial progress, and bolster each regional stability and regional safety,” he mentioned.
Panama Cuts China’s Belt and Highway Deal
Rubio first stopped in Panama, the place the Trump administration has positioned elevated consideration on management of the Panama Canal and its ties with the Chinese language Communist Get together.
The USA negotiated the rights to dig the canal in 1903, after supporting Panama in its conflict of independence from Colombia. The USA retained management over the canal and the encompassing canal zone till 1979 when President Jimmy Carter agreed to show it over to Panama.
Trump has framed his discuss of reclaiming the canal round considerations over China’s affect over the important thing waterway.
“We gave the Panama Canal to Panama. We didn’t give it to China,” Trump mentioned at a Jan. 6 press convention. “They’ve abused that present.”
After assembly with Rubio on Feb. 2, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino introduced his nation won’t renew a 2017 memorandum of understanding with the Chinese language Communist Get together. The settlement entailed Chinese language infrastructure tasks and investments in Panama as a part of its Belt and Highway Initiative.
U.S. officers and different critics have referred to the Belt and Highway Initiative as a type of “debt-trap diplomacy” employed by the CCP.
Rubio praised Panama for agreeing to finish its participation within the Belt and Highway Initiative as a step to enhance U.S.–Panama relations and a “free Panama Canal.”
Folks have a look at two cargo ships coming into the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal in Panama Metropolis on Jan. 22, 2025. Martin Bernetti/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
The choice to not renew the deal raised Beijing’s ire and the CCP’s overseas ministry spokesman blamed the USA for its “pressuring and coercion” over Panama.
Canal Charges Nonetheless Up within the Air
Whereas Panama has agreed to chop ties with China’s Belt and Highway Initiative, the Central American nation isn’t precisely on the identical web page because the Trump administration concerning the canal.
Mulino additional mentioned he lacks the authorized authority to decrease or exempt anybody from the canal transit charges.
El Salvador and Guatemala to Take Deportees
Guatemala and El Salvador are positioned to turn into key companions with the USA because the Trump administration appears to be like to ramp up deportations of unlawful immigrants.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo attain out to shake arms on the finish of their joint information convention on the Nationwide Palace in Guatemala Metropolis, on Feb. 5, 2025. Mark Schiefelbein/Reuters
Rubio and Arévalo each mentioned they’ve but to work out some particulars of this expanded deportation association.
Arévalo had beforehand mentioned his predecessor’s Secure Third Nation settlement throughout Trump’s first time period was “completely insufficient.” He mentioned a extra regional strategy was essential however didn’t rule out the potential for making an analogous deal.
He mentioned a Guatemalan authorities delegation is planning to go to Washington within the coming weeks. The objective, he mentioned, is “to create agreements when it comes to financial productive growth and funding to make sure tangible impression, constructive impression for Guatemala.”
Arévalo’s resolution to comply with extra deportation flights, together with of non-Guatemalan deportees, was introduced a day after Rubio mentioned El Salvador can even absorb deportees from the USA, together with not simply unlawful immigrants however prison U.S. residents and authorized residents. The secretary of state didn’t provide additional particulars in regards to the circumstances that will warrant U.S. residents being despatched to El Salvador.
Rubio and Bukele introduced the brand new deportation association as they signed a civil nuclear settlement.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) meets with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele at his residence at Lake Coatepeque in El Congo municipality, El Salvador, on Feb. 3, 2025. Mark Schiefelbein/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Dominican Republic Appoints Drug Czar, Facilitates Airplane Seizure
Rubio stopped over within the Dominican Republic for the final leg of his journey.
Throughout his stopover within the Dominican Republic, Rubio additionally joined U.S. officers as they hooked up a seizure warrant to the facet of a luxurious jet allegedly belonging to the federal government of Venezuelan chief Nicolás Maduro.
A “seized” signal is positioned on a Venezuelan authorities airplane throughout a press convention the place U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio introduced its seizure at La Isabela Worldwide Airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Feb. 6, 2025. Mark Schiefelbein/Pool by way of Reuters
Aldgra Fredly, TJ Muscaro, and The Related Press contributed to this report.