WATCH: Panamanian president sides with US’ Rubio, won’t renew Belt and Road Agreement with China
Secretary of State Marco Rubio's latest success is a "step in the right direction," National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said; it's also being praised by foreign policy experts in and out of Congress.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s first trip abroad focused on Latin America’s relationship with America under the new Trump administration — and his first meeting with a foreign leader abroad scored a key win.
Panama has been feeling the heat from President Donald Trump due to massive Chinese influence in the Panama Canal area. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino announced that his country will not renew its membership in Communist China’s Belt and Road Initiative and that it will assist America in repatriating illegal immigrants to their countries of origin.
“The 2017 memorandum of understanding on the Silk Road, part of the Belt and Road initiative, will not be renewed by my government,” Mulino said. “That is a fact. We are going to study the possibility of whether it can be ended earlier or not. I think it is up for renewal in one or two years, because it’s every three. So that initiative which was signed will not be renewed by my government.”
Rubio’s near-immediate results were praised by his colleagues in the Trump administration. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz called the move a “step in the right direction.”
Rubio’s success is the latest win for a nascent second Trump administration, which has already seen Colombia return to cooperating on illegal immigration and Venezuela release several American hostages following a visit from Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions Ric Grenell.
National security experts in and out of Congress commended Rubio’s success in Panama. “President Donald Trump’s administration continues to show America and the world what strength, leadership and decisiveness can achieve,” Sen. Bill Hagerty (R., Tenn.) said. Sen. Mike Lee (R., Utah) also lauded the move. “Buh bye, China,” he said. “Keep your Belt and Road out of the Americas.”
On the House side, Rep. Lisa McClain (R., Mich.), the number four House Republican, said that “America is respected again under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Rubio.” Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R., Texas) added that “Secretary Rubio delivers for the economic and national security of North America. Focusing on making the Western Hemisphere great again and free from the infection of communist China.”
“Way to go Secretary Rubio,” Rep. Bill Huizenga (R., Mich.), a top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said of Rubio’s work. “China has seen much too much influence here in the Western Hemisphere. Now on to Africa and other spots around the world.” Rep. Young Kim (R., Calif.), who is also on the Foreign Affairs Committee, noted that “in my travels on [HFAC], our partners make clear that ‘showing up builds trust.’ This is how we remain the partner of choice and lead on the world stage. Great work, Secretary Rubio. When the United States isn’t there, adversaries like China fill the void.”
“Great news,” Rep. Troy Nehls (R., Texas) simply added. “Still not tired of winning.”
Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R., Fla.), one of Rubio’s fellow Floridians, added to the chorus of praise: “bravo, Secretary Rubio,” he said. The House Judiciary Committee itself, chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) called the success a “HUGE WIN.”
Bonnie Glick, a former senior official in the Trump administration noted to the Reporter that “China was encroaching on the western hemisphere under the Biden administration. Secretary Rubio‘s first trip is to Latin America and serves to remind our neighbors in the western hemisphere that they are better off partnering with Washington than with Beijing.”
The Hudson Institute’s Michael Sobolik agreed: “This is a huge win for America,” he said. “Panama was the First Nation in Latin America to join the Belt and Road Initiative in 2017. It did so mere months after switching diplomatic relations from Taipei to Beijing. Secretary Rubio is already off to a strong start.”