QCOSTARICA — The new Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubio, will embark on his first international tour next week, which will take him to Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic.
This was reported to the press on Thursday by the new spokesperson for the State Department, Tammy Bruce.
“Secretary Rubio will travel to Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic starting at the end of next week,” she briefly detailed.
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Rubio, who speaks perfect Spanish and is the son of Cuban immigrants, became the first Hispanic Secretary of State in the history of the United States on Tuesday.
The new Administration of Donald Trump wants to stop migratory flows from Latin America and the appointment of Rubio as head of US diplomacy anticipates greater attention to the region.
The visit to Panama takes place at a time of tension due to Trump’s promise to “retake” US control over the Panama Canal, which has generated the repudiation of the authorities of Panama.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Rubio suggested that China’s use of the Panama Canal violates the terms of the delivery of the interoceanic waterway to Panamanians.
The Panama Canal was built by the United States, which opened it in 1914 and administered it until it was transferred to the Panamanian state on December 31, 1999, as established in the Torrijos-Carter Treaties signed on September 7, 1977 in Washington.
On Wedneday, Costa Rican President Rodrigo described a U.S. invasion to retake the Panama Canal as “very unlikely” and called for dialogue between the two countries to resolve their differences.
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During the weekly press conference, Chaves did not express a position in favor of one country or the other, saying that “it is too early to tie ourselves down to a position” and that “there are arguments on both sides.”
“Deep down in my heart, I believe that a military invasion is very unlikely, it would be reprehensible, it would violate a lot of international laws and principles,” Chaves said at his weekly press conference.
Rubio’s trip to the region also comes after Nicolás Maduro was sworn in on January 10 for a new term in Venezuela despite allegations of electoral fraud by the opposition and the international community.
This Wednesday, Rubio spoke with Venezuelan opposition leaders Edmundo González Urrutia, who was recently visited Costa Rica and whom Washington considers the president-elect, and María Corina Machado to reaffirm his support.
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Read more: Edmundo González gives hope to Venezuelans in Costa Rica
“Rubio reaffirmed the United States’ support for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela and for the unconditional and immediate release of all political prisoners, in line with the peaceful democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people,” his spokesman said.
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