Secretary of State Marco Rubio Heading to Panama Amid Push to Take Back Panama Canal

Marco Rubio is heading to Panama!

President Trump’s Secretary of State is set to make his first foreign trip as early as next week.

He will be traveling through Latin America from late January to early February and will make a stop in Panama, reportedly to discuss reclaiming the Panama Canal for the U.S!

He will also be traveling to Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

Check it out:

BREAKING: Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit Panama. Rubio is expected to address two issues: “curtailing illegal migration and Trump’s push to reclaim the Panama Canal,” according to Politico. pic.twitter.com/clOHFLVZjD

— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) January 23, 2025

🚨 JUST IN: Secretary of State Marco Rubio is going to Panama, amid talks of re-taking the Panama Canal – POLITICO

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 23, 2025

Politico reported:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit Panama — the country whose canal President Donald Trump has suggested he’d seize — as early as next week, according to three U.S. officials briefed on the plan.

The Rubio trip — scheduled to run from late January to early February — also includes Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, the officials said.

The trip is expected to be Rubio’s first foreign travel as secretary of State, said one former official who was also briefed on the plan. All were granted anonymity as they weren’t authorized to discuss travel plans publicly.

All of the individuals also stressed that the travel plans are tentative.

Late Wednesday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed the overall travel plan and said Rubio was choosing to prioritize the Western Hemisphere because “it’s where we live.”

“We won’t continue to ignore the region as other administrations have,” Bruce said. “Engaging with our neighbors is a vital element in addressing migration, supply chains and economic growth, which are key to Secretary Rubio’s pursuit of foreign policy focused on making America strong, prosperous, and safe.”

Rubio is expected to use the travel to cover at least two issues at the top of MAGA foreign policy agenda: curtailing illegal migration and Trump’s push to reclaim the Panama Canal, according to one of the current officials and the former official.

Bloomberg also confirmed:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to travel to Panama as part of a trip to Latin America as soon as next week, a person familiar with the matter said, underscoring President Donald Trump’s seriousness about taking back the Panama Canal.

Rubio also plans to visit Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica, according to the person, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.

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Things are moving quickly.

We are only in Day 3 of President Trump’s administration and his agenda is already taking shape.

Will we see the Panama Canal come back under U.S. control before Spring?

It’s certainly possible but we will see…

Take a look at these responses to news of Rubio’s upcoming trip:

Boom hell ya! Let’s go!! 🇺🇸💯💪

— Rob McGuire (@robmcguire4372) January 23, 2025

That should be an interesting conversation. Marco is jumping right in there!

— Julie McBane (@julie_mcbane) January 23, 2025

I’m liking this pace so far

— 𝔓𝔲𝔟𝔩𝔦𝔲𝔰 🪶 (@Federalist85) January 23, 2025