From the Catholic News Agency:
Rubio began his trip in Panama, where he attended Mass at Our Lady of Mercy in Panama City, a nod to the Catholic faith he often cites as a guiding force in his life. Talks swiftly pivoted to U.S. priorities: curbing illegal migration, restraining Beijing’s influence, and ensuring authoritarian regimes face repercussions for driving mass migration.
During meetings with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Rubio warned of China’s “influence and control” near the canal’s logistics chain. In response, Mulino announced that Panama would let its participation in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative expire, effectively distancing the nation from a deal it had signed in 2017. Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta pointedly defended Panama’s sovereignty and the canal’s neutrality, calling it a “symbol of national identity.”