Rubio visits Panama and discusses the Panama Canal

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama demanding that the country's president "immediately" curb Chinese influence over the Panama Canal, warning of possible "countermeasures", according to the AP news agency.

Panama, in turn, assured that it does not plan to extend the agreement with Chinese companies after its expiration.

Rubio told Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino that China's presence in the canal area could violate the terms of the treaty transferring the waterway to Panama, signed by the US in 1999. Under this agreement, the Panama Canal must remain in a status of permanent neutrality.

“Secretary Rubio emphasised that such a situation is unacceptable, and in the absence of immediate changes, the US will be forced to take the necessary steps to protect its interests under the concluded treaty,” the State Department statement said.

Mulino, for his part, described his talks with Rubio as "respectful" and "positive", noting that he sees no threat to the relevance of the agreement. He added that Rubio had not voiced specific threats related to the return of the canal or the use of force.

This trip marked the first foreign visit by the new US Secretary of State.