Rubio will stop in Panama on his first foreign trip as secretary of state

secretary of state Marco Rubio State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce confirmed to CBS News that he plans to travel to Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala and other Central American and Caribbean countries in the coming weeks.

The trip, expected to be his first trip abroad as US ambassador, will include a stop in Panama to meet with leaders there as President Trump urges the US to retake operational control. Panama Canal. His stops in other Central American states will likely focus on formalizing agreements with those countries to take back citizens deported from the United States as part of the new Trump administration. immigration policy is expected to result in a significant increase in deportations. Several Latin American governments, including Guatemala, have expressed openness to new agreements.

Rubio’s confirmation this week as the first Latino Secretary of State was closely watched by governments across the hemisphere, interested in his promotion and seeking more attention from American officials, particularly his top diplomat, who has personal ties and a long history of work with the region. public criticism of communist and socialist governments.

A person familiar with the planning, speaking on condition of anonymity to speak candidly about the ongoing planning, said Rubio would “probably come the first week of February, not next week.”

Panama’s government has not announced any pending visit, but its president has issued strongly worded statements ahead of Inauguration Day and refuting President Trump’s claim that China now controls the Panama Canal. He vowed that the main transit point would remain under Panamanian control and that the United States would not take it back.

The trip to Panama comes as Mr Trump said in his inaugural address that former President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29 at the age of 100, had “foolishly” returned control of the Canal to Panama.

“We have been treated very badly by this stupid gift that should never have been done,” Mr Trump said. “And Panama’s promise to us has been broken. The intent and spirit of our agreement has been completely violated. American ships are grossly overloaded and not treated fairly in any way, shape, or form, and that includes the United States. First of all, China controls the Panama Canal and we didn’t give it to China, we’re taking it back.”

In addition to the Panamanian comments, migration from Central America is a high priority for the Trump administration, and Mr. Trump has already signed executive actions that lay the groundwork for a sweeping deportation plan and designate cartels and gangs as terrorist groups.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz he said Sunday on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.” The Trump administration will “go after the 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.

Margaret Brennan

Margaret Brennan is the host of Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan. He is also the network’s Washington-based senior foreign affairs correspondent and a correspondent for 60 Minutes.