U.S. Envoy Warns of Security Threat Posed by China's Presence Near the Panama Canal
U.S. Special Envoy for Latin America Mauricio Claver-Carone warned on Friday that China’s expanding presence around the Panama Canal
Mohamed Aboelsoud 
U.S. Special Envoy for Latin America Mauricio Claver-Carone warned on Friday that China’s expanding presence around the Panama Canal poses a significant national security threat, stressing that the Panamanian government must take action to address the situation.
His remarks came ahead of a planned visit by senior U.S. diplomat Marco Rubio to Panama. Rubio is set to embark on his first official foreign tour on Saturday, during which he will visit the canal and hold talks with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino.
This meeting marks the first high-level discussion between the two nations since U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the possibility of reclaiming control of the canal, which was originally built and operated by the United States. As part of his tour, Rubio will also visit El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic, where discussions will center on the Trump administration’s initiatives to repatriate migrants from the region and curb illegal immigration to the U.S., Claver-Carone said in a press briefing.
Claver-Carone emphasized that President Mulino inherited this issue from previous Panamanian administrations but now bears the responsibility of addressing its consequences. “
The growing influence of Chinese companies and entities throughout the Canal Zone—spanning ports, logistics, telecommunications infrastructure, and beyond—is highly concerning. This is not only a matter of U.S. national security but also a pressing security issue for Panama and the entire Western Hemisphere,” he stated
