Secretary of State Marco Rubio is headed to Panama as part of his first international trip in his new role. President Trump made it clear he wants the U.S. to control the heavily used Panama Canal, a move the Panamanian government strongly opposes.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is heading to Panama after President Trump vowed to take back control of the Panama Canal. Andrea Mitchell spoke to former Panama Canal administrator Jorge Quijano and joins José Díaz-Balart from Panama City to share the country’s response.

When Marco Rubio arrives in Latin America this weekend on his first foreign trip as Donald Trump's secretary of state, he'll find a region reeling from the new administration's shock-and-awe approach to diplomacy.

The U.S. and Panama are apprehensive about China's presence around the Panama Canal, citing national security concerns. The issue will be a focus during U.S. top diplomat Marco Rubio's visit, where he will meet Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino and discuss regional migration issues.

Marco Rubio will head overseas late next week; he's also scheduled to visit Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

Former U.S. senator from Florida Marco Rubio jumps into new role as secretary of state with flurry of phone calls, planned trip to Panama.

This is not about acquiring land for the purpose of acquiring land,” Rubio. “This is in our national interest and it needs to be solved.”

Critics say the new administration's harsh stance on the region risks opening the door for rivals like China to increase their presence there.

Jose Raul Mulino said he won't discuss control of the canal during the secretary of state's visit. Rubio, in contrast, said "we're going to address that topic."

Countering Beijing and 'deepening economic partnerships' to boost regional prosperity said to be on agenda in tour that starts in Panama US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will make his first international trip since taking office on Saturday,

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to head to Panama soon for his first international trip as the nation’s top diplomat, Fox News has learned.