Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the Panamanian government’s decision to cut back its ties with the Chinese Communist Party following a trip to visit the Panama Canal. Rubio toured the transcontinental passage on Monday during a multistop journey in South America,

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday welcomed Panama's decision to let its participation in China's global infrastructure plan expire, calling the move "a great step forward" for its ties with the United States.

Amid pressures from President Trump, Panama will “optimize transit priority” of U.S. Navy ships and will not renew its participation in China’s Belt and Road Initiative.