Marco Rubio heading to Panama on first trip as secretary of state: ‘We won’t continue to ignore the region’

Newly sworn-in Secretary of State Marco Rubio volition question to Panama for his archetypal planetary travel arsenic the nation’s apical diplomat, Fox News has learned. 

Though details are inactive being worked out, the sojourn could travel arsenic aboriginal arsenic adjacent week. 

The planned travel comes aft repeated vows by President Donald Trump – who returned to the White House connected Monday – to instrumentality backmost the Panama Canal.

Trump mentioned the Panama Canal again during his inaugural code connected Monday, claiming that it was present successful the hands of China and vowing to instrumentality it back. 

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks aft being sworn successful by Vice President JD Vance successful the Vice Presidential Ceremonial Office successful the Eisenhower Executive Office Building connected the White House campus, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, successful Washington.  (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

"China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn’t springiness it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back," Trump said. 

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino responded forcefully to Trump's comments connected Wednesday saying, "we cull successful its entirety everything that Mr. Trump has said. First, due to the fact that it is mendacious and second, due to the fact that the Panama Canal belongs to Panama and volition proceed to beryllium to Panama."  

The Marshall Islands cargo vessel Cape Hellas (L) and the Portuguese cargo vessel MSC Elma sail connected Gatun Lake adjacent the Agua Clara Locks of the Panama Canal successful Colon City, Panama, connected December 28, 2024.  (ARNULFO FRANCO/AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. built the canal successful the aboriginal 1900s nether past President Theodore Roosevelt arsenic it looked for ways to facilitate the transit of commercialized and subject vessels betwixt its coasts. Washington relinquished power of the waterway to Panama connected Dec. 31, 1999, nether a pact signed successful 1977 by past President Jimmy Carter. 

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News of Rubio’s travel was archetypal reported by Politico and could see different Central American countries similar Guatemala and El Salvador, wherever Rubio is expected to code a apical precedence of curbing wide migration that helium outlined earlier this week. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is sworn by Vice President JD Vance successful the Vice Presidential Ceremonial Office successful the Eisenhower Executive Office Building connected the White House campus, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, successful Washington, arsenic his wife, Jeanette Rubio, looks on.  (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce tells Fox News that "Secretary Rubio is prioritizing the portion due to the fact that it’s wherever we live," adding "we won’t proceed to disregard the portion arsenic different administrations have." 

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She added: "Engaging with our neighbors is simply a captious constituent successful addressing migration, proviso chains, and economical growth, which are cardinal to Secretary Rubio’s pursuit of overseas argumentation focused connected making America strong, prosperous, and safe."

Fox News Digital’s Adam Shaw and The Associated Press contributed to this report.