Secretary of State Marco Rubio is preparing to travel to Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala and other Central American and Caribbean countries in the coming weeks, multiple sources confirmed to CBS News.
The trip, his first overseas as the top US representative, is expected to include a stop in Panama to meet with leaders there as President Trump calls for the US to regain operational control of Panama Canal. His stops in other Central American countries are likely to focus on formalizing agreements with those countries to take back citizens deported from the US under the new Trump administration. immigration policy This is expected to lead to a significant increase in deportations. Several Latin American governments, including Guatemala, have signaled they are open to new agreements.
Rubio's confirmation this week as the first Latin American secretary of state has been closely watched across the hemisphere by governments intrigued by his ascension and eager to gain more attention from U.S. officials, especially a senior diplomat with personal ties to the region and a long work history. public criticism of communist and socialist governments.
One person familiar with the planning, who spoke on condition of anonymity to speak candidly about current planning, said Rubio “probably won't come next week, but the first week of February.”
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Panama's government has not announced the expected visit, but its president issued strong statements ahead of and on the day of the inauguration, denying President Trump's claims that China now controls the Panama Canal. He vowed that the key transit point would remain under Panamanian control and the US would not take it back.
The trip to Panama came after Mr Trump said in his inaugural address that former President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29 aged 100, had “stupidly” taken back control of the Panama Canal.
“We have been treated very badly because of this stupid gift that should never have been given,” Mr Trump said. “And the promise of Panama was broken. The purpose of our bargain and the spirit of our treaty have been completely violated. American ships are grossly overpriced, and their treatment is unfair in any way, including the United States. Navy. And above all, China operates the Panama Canal, and we didn't give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we're taking it back.”
In addition to the Panama comments, migration from Central America is a top priority for the Trump administration, and Mr. Trump has already signed executive orders laying the groundwork for his sweeping deportation plan and designating cartels and gangs as terrorist groups.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said Sunday on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.” that the Trump administration will “go after the criminal gangs that terrorize our cities,” specifically referring to MS-13 and Tren De Aragua. Venezuela will not accept deportees who are members of the Tren De Aragua, and Waltz said the Trump administration is talking to third countries about accepting them.
