- Feb 5, 2002
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio capped a whirlwind tour of Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic this week by signing fresh migration accords designed to stem northbound flows. But the trip was as much about Central America as it was about China as the Trump administration aims to reclaim American influence and authority in the continent away from its Far East rival.
Rubio began his trip in Panama, where he attended Mass at Our Lady of Mercy in Panama City, a nod to the Catholic faith he often cites as a guiding force in his life. Talks swiftly pivoted to U.S. priorities: curbing illegal migration, restraining Beijing’s influence, and ensuring authoritarian regimes face repercussions for driving mass migration.
During meetings with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Rubio warned of China’s “influence and control” near the canal’s logistics chain. In response, Mulino announced that Panama would let its participation in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative expire, effectively distancing the nation from a deal it had signed in 2017.
Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta pointedly defended Panama’s sovereignty and the canal’s neutrality, calling it a “symbol of national identity.”
Continued below.
www.catholicnewsagency.com
Rubio began his trip in Panama, where he attended Mass at Our Lady of Mercy in Panama City, a nod to the Catholic faith he often cites as a guiding force in his life. Talks swiftly pivoted to U.S. priorities: curbing illegal migration, restraining Beijing’s influence, and ensuring authoritarian regimes face repercussions for driving mass migration.
During meetings with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Rubio warned of China’s “influence and control” near the canal’s logistics chain. In response, Mulino announced that Panama would let its participation in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative expire, effectively distancing the nation from a deal it had signed in 2017.
Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta pointedly defended Panama’s sovereignty and the canal’s neutrality, calling it a “symbol of national identity.”
Continued below.
Rubio secures migration deals as canal tensions, Church criticisms mark tour
The trip was as much about Central America as it was about China as the Trump administration aims to reclaim American influence and authority in the continent.
www.catholicnewsagency.com
