Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s upcoming diplomatic mission to Central America reflects the US focus on addressing critical regional issues, including migration, security, and the growing influence of China.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has embarked on a trip to Central America, including Panama, as part of efforts to counter Chinas expanding influence in the region. According to a State Department spokesperson,

The new administration's immigration crackdown is likely to be among the top issues during talks, but US President Donald Trump's claim that the Central American nation had ceded control of the Panama Canal to China will also loom large.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on a diplomatic mission to Central America, aiming to counter China's influence in the region. This initiative aligns with President Trump's foreign policy, which also emphasizes U.

Many experts expected a tariff hike on day one of Mr Trump's presidency, but his decision to delay placing levies on Chinese goods immediately is tied to ongoing negotiations over TikTok.The US President has also signalled a willingness to engage with Chinese President Xi Jinping before finalising any tariff decisions.

LSE IDEAS analyse China’s growing presence in Latin America concerning trade, diplomacy, and strategic influence

Elizabeth Economy is Co-Director of the US, China, and the World Project and Hargrove Senior Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. From 2021 to 2023, she was Senior Adviser for China at the U.S. Department of Commerce. She is the author of The World According to China.

E VEN AS AMERICA’S relationship with China enters a new, less predictable era, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping see the value in talking. On January 17th the leaders had a “very good” phone call, wrote Mr Trump on social media.

Colombia stopped resisting President Donald Trump’s deportation of its unwanted nationals. But America First bullying may yet provoke a backlash. The row casts a pall over the first trip abroad by Marco Rubio,

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says President Donald Trump’s desire to acquire Greenland and retake control of the Panama Canal is driven by legitimate national security interests stemming from growing concerns about Chinese activity in the Arctic and in Latin America.

Central Asia is balancing economic ties with Russia, avoiding sanctions fallout, and leveraging Western initiatives while safeguarding relations with Beijing