Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino to address the issue of Chinese influence in the Panama Canal. The US has been vocal about wanting Panama to take back the waterway amid concerns about China's influence. Trump has warned that if immediate changes are not made, the US will take action to protect its rights under a treaty with Panama. Rubio emphasized the importance of collaboration in ending the hemisphere's illegal migration crisis and praised Panama's efforts in reducing migration through the Darien Gap. The meeting marks an effort to strengthen the relationship between the US and Panama, but the issue of Chinese influence in the canal area remains a sticking point. The diplomatic discussions come at a time when Trump is seeking to reorient US diplomacy towards the western hemisphere and address issues such as migration and economic competition. Can the US pressure Panama to reduce Chinese influence in the canal area without straining relations?