Panama’s President Raúl Mulino met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss key issues, including the Panama Canal, Chinese influence, and migration policies. Mulino reaffirmed Panama’s sovereignty and announced that his government will not renew the 2017 Belt and Road Initiative memorand
Panama’s President Raúl Mulino held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday, addressing concerns over the Panama Canal, Chinese influence, and regional migration policies.
Speaking after the meeting, Mulino described the discussions as "cordial and respectful", emphasizing Panama’s strategic relationship with the U.S. while defending the country’s sovereignty over the canal.
Mulino addressed U.S. concerns over China’s involvement in Panama, particularly in relation to ports near the canal. He stated that for the first time since the 1997 concession, two Chinese-owned ports are undergoing audits by Panamanian authorities.
"We have to wait for the audit process to conclude before drawing legal conclusions and acting accordingly," Mulino said.
He also confirmed that the Panama Canal remains under national control, responding to recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed concerns over Chinese presence in the region.
"The canal is operated by our country and will continue to be so," Mulino stated.
Mulino and Rubio also discussed expanding the memorandum of understanding signed with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in July 2024 to strengthen migration controls.
The agreement focuses on the repatriation of migrants from the Darién Gap, a key transit route for people traveling from Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. Mulino offered Panama’s Nicanor track in Metetí, Darién as a repatriation hub.
Mulino confirmed that his government will not renew the 2017 memorandum of understanding on China’s Belt and Road Initiative, signaling a shift in Panama’s economic and diplomatic stance.
With U.S.-Panama relations under renewed focus, the meeting highlighted the region’s growing geopolitical tensions, particularly over China’s role in Latin America and the strategic importance of the Panama Canal.
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Palestinians have reported a surge in attacks by Israeli settlers on homes, vehicles, and residents across the West Bank, amid growing international criticism.
Belgium has marked the 10th-anniversary of the 2016 Brussels terror attacks, remembering the victims of the country’s deadliest peacetime attack and reflecting on changes to national security.
A drone attack on a hospital in East Darfur, Sudan, has killed at least 64 people and injured 89 more, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported on Saturday.
President Donald Trump said the U.S. was considering "winding down" its military operation against Iran, as Iran and Israel traded attacks on Saturday (21 March) and Iranian media said the nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz had been attacked.
Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris, the martial artist, actor and cultural icon best known for his roles in action films and the long-running CBS series Walker, Texas Ranger, has died at the age of 86.
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Belgium has marked the 10th-anniversary of the 2016 Brussels terror attacks, remembering the victims of the country’s deadliest peacetime attack and reflecting on changes to national security.
A drone attack on a hospital in East Darfur, Sudan, has killed at least 64 people and injured 89 more, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported on Saturday.
Cuba’s national power grid went down on Saturday, cutting electricity for millions, officials said. The outage marks the second nationwide blackout in a week and the third major grid failure in March.
A British nuclear-powered submarine armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles has reportedly taken up position in the Arabian Sea, the Daily Mail reported on Saturday (21 March). The deployment gives the UK the ability to carry out long-range strikes if tensions in the Gulf escalate.
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