Secretary of State Marco Rubio concluded his first overseas trip across Latin America with several victories on immigration, a top priority for President Donald Trump.
America’s new top diplomats return home with binders full of agreements from foreign governments on one priority per day to block human trafficking.
“I think the fact that his first trip was to Latin America was a big statement in itself,” said Joseph Hamia, executive director of the Centre for the Safe Freedom and Society (SFS).
Rubio then heads to the Middle East and attends the Munich Security Conference before planning to visit Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia in mid-February. A wider range of even more challenging situations await him. This included concerns that Trump’s new ideas would “take over” the Gaza Strip, and neighboring Arab countries stubbornly opposed us to take away the Palestinians.
Rubio visits the Middle East for his second trip as Secretary of State after Trump proposes to buy Gaza
Panama agreed not to update its belt and road initiative with China after the Rubio meeting, which was drawn with the Foreign Minister of Panama. (AP/Mark Schiefelbein)
The Trump administration had already won several victories before the secretary took off for Latin America. Columbia quickly lightning by accepting deportation flights carrying illegal immigrants returning home from the United States. President Gustavo Peter initially refused two flights carrying Colombians, saying he would not be treated with “dignity and respect” and would not accept the return of immigrants who have been bound or arrived in the military.
But Trump quickly threatened a 25% tariff on Colombian goods, and Peter acquiesced to all US terms, according to the White House, including accepting military immigrants.
Rubio then began a regional tour in Panama last Saturday. This is a country that has been nervously waiting for what his visit would hold after Trump repeatedly called for a US acquisition of the Panama Canal.
Trump claimed the canal was essentially under Chinese control – Hong Kong-based companies managed ports of entry, the US built the canal, and the 1977 treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter After returning it to Panama, he charged an unfair US fee.
After Rubio’s visit, Panama said it would not update its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with China.
“BRI’s was big news,” Hire said.
“There are 22 countries in Latin America that have signed the BRI agreement. If we really push this hard, many countries, especially those allies with us, are trying to rethink it,” he added. Ta.
Rubio heads to Panama, Latin America to pursue Trump’s “golden age” agenda
Rubio had warned Panama that the US would move if the government were not moving to reduce or eliminate CCP grip on the canal.
Under the Canal Treaty, the United States maintains its obligation to protect the canal if it is under threat.
Rubio, painted above the Dominican Republic, warned Panama that the US would move to do so if the government was not moving to reduce or eliminate CCP grips against the canal. (Mark Sieferbein/Pool via Reuters)
However, Rubio was caught up in the allegation that the State Department claimed that Panama had allowed the canals of US Navy ships to pass freely.
Panama’s President Jose Raul Murino has accused the United States of spreading “lies and falsehoods” about his country, which provides a free passage for the United States.
The secretary then rowed the claim, calling the charge “absurd.”
“It seems ridiculous that you have to pay to pass through a zone you have to protect in an age of conflict,” Rubio said. “Panama has a legal and procedural process that needs to be followed as it relates to the ports of Panama.”
In Costa Rica, Rubio provided help to push back China’s influence by fighting a wave of drug trafficking crime and limiting CCP development for 5G technology in the country.
Later in El Salvador, Rubio accepted a nationality of all nationalities, including American criminals, in an offer from Trump-friendly President Naive Buquere.
El Salvador agrees to accept deportees of all nationalities after meeting with Rubio
At the same time, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to send 10,000 Mexican troops to the US border after Trump agreed to delay the threatened 25% tariffs on exports to the US.
Meanwhile, in Guatemala, President Bernardo Arevalo has pledged to accept 40% of deportation flights and to accept people of other nationalities.
“I think a lot of the wins are due to his previous relationship with the region, his team and, frankly, his experience and knowledge,” Humire said. “He is someone who can draw them to their language and such mannerism.”
He added that Latin America saw the president’s threats to Canada, Mexico and Colombia and saw deportation as “how serious.”
During his stint in El Salvador, Rubio signed an offer from Trump-friendly President Naive Buquere to accept fortresses of all nationalities, including American criminals. (Mark Sieferbein/Pool via Reuters)
“I think we could have made it clearer from Panama on the canal,” Hyla said. “But I think we mostly encountered resistance. [overall]. ”
Rubio wasn’t the only Trump officials to secure Latin America. Envoy Rick Grenell sat down with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro this week and returned home with six American hostages. According to Grenell, the price paid gave Venezuelan dictators the opportunity to take photos with American diplomats for propaganda purposes.
The Trump administration now hopes that deportation to Venezuela will resume “in 30 days,” border emperor Tom Homan told The New York Times.
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“He’s falling into good policies,” Hyer said. “[Maduro] Thinking – they call it Agenda Zero – they think they can update by basically doing good and starting to lead us towards their interests . ”
“Grennell has to be able to get what he needs without giving him too much, and I think he’s done that,” continued Hier. “Photo manipulation, they spin it and use it for disinformation. But that’s a small concession to bring hostages home.”
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