On February 2, 2025, during his visit, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with the President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, to discuss matters related to the Panama Canal.
Rubio emphasized that the current situation was “unacceptable” and violated the 1999 treaty, under which the U.S. transferred control of the canal to Panama, including its neutral status.
The U.S. accuses Panama of excessive Chinese influence over the canal’s management, claiming this control violates the treaty’s terms. U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that if changes are not made immediately, the U.S. will take “necessary measures to protect its rights under the treaty,” though details of these measures were not disclosed.
In response to the threats, President Mulino stated that he did not see any real threat to the treaty or Panama’s sovereignty. He expressed confidence that the issue could be resolved through negotiations and suggested that the U.S. engage in dialogue to settle the situation.
