Marco Rubio will visit Panama and other Central American and Caribbean countries on his first international tour

The Cuban-American Marco Rubio, recently confirmed as Secretary of State, will embark on his first international tour as the head of U.S. diplomacy, with visits to Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic.

The first stop of the tour will be this Saturday in Panama, where it arrives amid tensions following Donald Trump's threats to take back the Panama Canal. Today, Panamanians held several protests against the visit of the U.S. official.

This trip, which marks the beginning of his tenure at the State Department under the Donald Trump administration, aims to strengthen bilateral relations with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as promote cooperation on key issues such as migration, economic growth, and regional security, Rubio stated.

"I am preparing for my first international trip. Sadly, for years our hemisphere has been ignored. Many of our regional allies felt they were better off as our enemies than as our allies; that is no longer the case. The leadership of our country is back, and we support our regional partners," he stated in a message posted on X.

In a conciliatory tone, he stated that "this is the region where we live, it is our home, and it is where our future prosperity largely depends. There are many opportunities for joint collaboration. Our bilateral priorities can help end the era of massive illegal emigration, achieve economic growth, and strengthen both regional stability and security," he emphasized.

Rubio's trip is part of a new U.S. foreign policy aimed at restoring the country's leadership in the region, where it has historically held significant influence, but which, according to the new Secretary of State, has been neglected in recent years.

The focus of Rubio's tour will be to address several priority issues for the Trump administration, such as combating illegal mass migration, promoting regional economic growth, and strengthening security.

In this regard, he emphasized that relations with these countries can contribute to the strengthening of regional stability, a crucial condition for addressing the challenges that affect the region and the United States.

He did not mention in his message Trump's statements about the Panama Canal, which have been strongly rejected by the Panamanian government.

Marco Rubio, son of Cuban immigrants, was unanimously confirmed in January as the new Secretary of State, making him the first Hispanic to hold this position in the history of the United States.

His rise to the leadership of American diplomacy marks a milestone in the country's politics, and his experience as a senator and foreign policy expert has been instrumental in his appointment.

In the Senate, Rubio was recognized for his strong approach to policy towards Latin America, standing out as a defender of sanctions against the authoritarian regimes in the region, particularly in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.

This approach has not changed now that he holds the position of Secretary of State, and he is expected to continue advancing a foreign policy agenda that prioritizes U.S. interests in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions about Marco Rubio's International Tour as Secretary of State