U.S. Senator Marco Rubio expressed his concern over the Chinese presence in Panama, calling it "unacceptable." Rubio, who is also the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, made his comments during a Senate hearing.
During his intervention, Rubio emphasized the strategic importance of Panama and stated that the increase in Chinese presence in the country could pose a threat to U.S. national security. The senator urged for measures to counteract this influence.
On the other hand, Rubio thanked Panama for its support of a program for the repatriation of irregular migrants crossing the dangerous Darién in their attempt to reach the United States. This initiative aims to jointly address the migration challenge in the region.
Regarding the Chinese presence in Panama, the senator underscored the importance of protecting regional sovereignty against external actors who may have dark motivations. Rubio emphasized the need for Panama and other countries in the region to maintain close cooperation with the United States to counter potential threats.
