"Rubio's First Visit as US Secretary of State Includes Panama and Other Central American Countries"

"Will Address Illegal Immigration and Panama Canal Issues"

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Central American countries including Panama as his first overseas trip since taking office, Bloomberg News and the U.S. political media outlet Politico reported on the 22nd (local time), citing sources.

According to sources, Secretary Rubio plans to visit Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic from late January to early February. However, nothing has been finalized yet.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said, "As previous administrations have done, we will not continue to ignore this region (Central America)," adding, "Engagement with our neighbors is a critical factor in addressing immigration, supply chain, and economic growth issues, which is important for Secretary Rubio’s pursuit of a foreign policy focused on making the United States strong, prosperous, and secure."

Typically, the Secretary of State chooses a geopolitically important U.S. ally as their first overseas destination after taking office. Former Secretary Anthony Blinken traveled to Japan, and former Secretary Rex Tillerson went to Germany.

Politico reported, citing current and former officials, that Secretary Rubio is expected to address illegal immigration control and the issue of reclaiming the Panama Canal, which are top priorities on President Trump’s foreign policy agenda, during his Central America visit.

President Trump emphasized the push for the return of the Panama Canal in his inauguration speech on the 20th. He said, "China is (effectively) operating the Panama Canal. We did not give it to China, and we will take it back." Panama President Jos? Ra?l Mulino condemned President Trump’s speech in a statement, saying, "The canal belongs to the Panamanian people forever."

Secretary Rubio is also expected to discuss illegal immigration issues with the governments of the countries he visits. Guatemala and El Salvador are major transit points for migrants heading to the southern U.S. border. In his first memo to State Department staff after taking office, Secretary Rubio called mass migration "one of the most important issues of our time" and stated that under his supervision, the State Department will cooperate with Western Hemisphere countries to reduce illegal immigration and negotiate the repatriation of illegal immigrants.