Following President Donald Trump’s announcement of tariffs on China, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called China’s influence and control over the Panama Canal ‘unacceptable.’ He cautioned Panama about the situation and added that the U.S. will take ‘necessary measures’ if changes are not made.”

Rubio conveyed US President Donald Trump’s concerns to Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino and Foreign Minister Javier Martinez during a meeting. The meeting took place on Sunday in Panama City. Rubio wrote about his visit on X, “I met with Panamanian President @JoseRaulMulino and Foreign Minister @javierachapma to make clear that the United States cannot, and will not, allow the Chinese Communist Party to continue with its effective and growing control over the Panama Canal area. We also discussed efforts to end the hemisphere’s mass migration crisis and ensure fair competition for U.S. firms.”

US Warns Panama

Later, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement that Trump has made a preliminary determination that the current position of influence and control of the Chinese Communist Party over the Panama Canal area is a threat.

Rubio made it clear that the current situation is “unacceptable” and in the case of “absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty,” concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal.

The statement read as, “Secretary Rubio informed President Mulino and Minister Martínez-Acha that President Trump has made a preliminary determination that the current position of influence and control of the Chinese Communist Party over the Panama Canal area is a threat to the canal and represents a violation of the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal. Secretary Rubio made clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty.”

Notably, Trump in his inaugural address had claimed that China is “operating” the Panama Canal and US is going to “take it back” as the US has been treated ‘unfairly.’