Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday he had "zero doubt" that China has a contingency plan to shut down the Panama Canal in the event of a conflict with the U.S. and that Washington intends to address what it sees as a national security threat.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s upcoming diplomatic mission to Central America reflects the US focus on addressing critical regional issues, including migration, security, and the growing influence of China.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has embarked on a trip to Central America, including Panama, as part of efforts to counter Chinas expanding influence in the region. According to a State Department spokesperson,

The new administration's immigration crackdown is likely to be among the top issues during talks, but US President Donald Trump's claim that the Central American nation had ceded control of the Panama Canal to China will also loom large.

Many experts expected a tariff hike on day one of Mr Trump's presidency, but his decision to delay placing levies on Chinese goods immediately is tied to ongoing negotiations over TikTok.The US President has also signalled a willingness to engage with Chinese President Xi Jinping before finalising any tariff decisions.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on a diplomatic mission to Central America, aiming to counter China's influence in the region. This initiative aligns with President Trump's foreign policy, which also emphasizes U.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Panama and four other countries in Central America and the Caribbean starting late next week during his first overseas trip as Washington's top diplomat,

LSE IDEAS analyse China’s growing presence in Latin America concerning trade, diplomacy, and strategic influence

E VEN AS AMERICA’S relationship with China enters a new, less predictable era, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping see the value in talking. On January 17th the leaders had a “very good” phone call, wrote Mr Trump on social media.