U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it “absurd” that U.S. Navy ships must pay to cross the Panama Canal after Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino denied an agreement for free passage. Speaking in the Dominican Republic, Rubio argued that the U.S. should not be charged for accessing a strategic route it is expected to protect during conflicts.
Despite earlier claims by the State Department that Panama had agreed to waive fees for U.S. vessels, Mulino dismissed this as “absolutely false.” Rubio acknowledged Panama’s right to enforce its own laws but maintained that U.S. expectations remain unchanged.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has threatened to seize the canal, citing concerns over China’s growing influence in the region.
