Diplomatic Tensions Over Panama Canal Control

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Panama's president about reducing Chinese influence over the Panama Canal. He emphasized that failure to address the issue could lead to US intervention under the existing treaty. This meeting marked Rubio's first foreign trip as the US top diplomat.

The United States has voiced concerns over Chinese influence in the Panama Canal, a critical maritime passage for international trade.

During a Sunday meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino to curb Chinese involvement, warning of potential American intervention.

Rubio's conversation with Mulino, his initial foreign trip as the US top diplomat, highlights Washington's unease about Panama's current canal management and signals possible diplomatic actions if changes aren't made swiftly.

(With inputs from agencies.)