US secretary of state Marco Rubio has told Panama’s president the country must reduce alleged Chinese influence over the Panama Canal or face potential retaliation from America.
The comments were made in a face-to-face meeting with Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino on Sunday.
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It was Mr Rubio’s first foreign trip as America’s top diplomat.
Mr Mulino has so far resisted pressure from the US and said after the meeting that “there is no real threat of retaking the canal or the use of force”.
Mr Trump previously demanded the canal be returned to US control and has repeatedly made allegations about China’s influence in the area.
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