Marco Rubio

But we should not be in a position of having to pay more than other countries. In fact, we should be getting a discount or maybe for free because we paid for the thing.

But we should not be in a position of having to pay more than other countries. In fact, we should be getting a discount or maybe for free because we paid for the thing.

But we should not be in a position of having to pay more than other countries. In fact, we should be getting a discount or maybe for free because we paid for the thing.

Well, I would argue that the canal is already in the arms of the Chinese. So, I mean, that's one aspect I would say. And we can't operate that way. Like, we can't operate in the world saying, well, we can't defend our national interest because if not, these countries will turn to China against us. I mean, we wouldn't allow that to happen. It would be against our national interest.

Well, I would argue that the canal is already in the arms of the Chinese. So, I mean, that's one aspect I would say. And we can't operate that way. Like, we can't operate in the world saying, well, we can't defend our national interest because if not, these countries will turn to China against us. I mean, we wouldn't allow that to happen. It would be against our national interest.

Well, I would argue that the canal is already in the arms of the Chinese. So, I mean, that's one aspect I would say. And we can't operate that way. Like, we can't operate in the world saying, well, we can't defend our national interest because if not, these countries will turn to China against us. I mean, we wouldn't allow that to happen. It would be against our national interest.

So, but that said, I hope we don't get to that point, right? We have a... on so many topics, have a very good working relationship with Panama and with their government. And I want that to continue. But we have a core national interest that's at stake. They should understand that. And I think that they will understand that. And it needs to be addressed. And we'll do that.

So, but that said, I hope we don't get to that point, right? We have a... on so many topics, have a very good working relationship with Panama and with their government. And I want that to continue. But we have a core national interest that's at stake. They should understand that. And I think that they will understand that. And it needs to be addressed. And we'll do that.

So, but that said, I hope we don't get to that point, right? We have a... on so many topics, have a very good working relationship with Panama and with their government. And I want that to continue. But we have a core national interest that's at stake. They should understand that. And I think that they will understand that. And it needs to be addressed. And we'll do that.

We'll do it in the right form. We'll do it appropriately. We're not here to embarrass anyone or cause internal friction or problems for them. But I can assure you if it was the other way around, and that was a canal that the Chinese had built, they would be very forceful about it. So we can no longer operate in the world with two hands tied behind our back.

We'll do it in the right form. We'll do it appropriately. We're not here to embarrass anyone or cause internal friction or problems for them. But I can assure you if it was the other way around, and that was a canal that the Chinese had built, they would be very forceful about it. So we can no longer operate in the world with two hands tied behind our back.

We'll do it in the right form. We'll do it appropriately. We're not here to embarrass anyone or cause internal friction or problems for them. But I can assure you if it was the other way around, and that was a canal that the Chinese had built, they would be very forceful about it. So we can no longer operate in the world with two hands tied behind our back.

Yeah, so I mean they can today control, I mean, we love our technology and we need it for all kinds of advances. All of that depends on critical minerals at the end of the day, ranging aluminum, cobalt, you name it. They have gone around the world buying up mining rights and they control not just the mining of it, but the refining and the production of it and the use of it for industrial purposes.

Yeah, so I mean they can today control, I mean, we love our technology and we need it for all kinds of advances. All of that depends on critical minerals at the end of the day, ranging aluminum, cobalt, you name it. They have gone around the world buying up mining rights and they control not just the mining of it, but the refining and the production of it and the use of it for industrial purposes.

Yeah, so I mean they can today control, I mean, we love our technology and we need it for all kinds of advances. All of that depends on critical minerals at the end of the day, ranging aluminum, cobalt, you name it. They have gone around the world buying up mining rights and they control not just the mining of it, but the refining and the production of it and the use of it for industrial purposes.

So I remember during COVID, everybody was freaking out because we couldn't get the masks because they were all made in China. And then we couldn't get this because they were all made in China. We had lost and given away our industrial capacity. This is even graver. This is the rare earth minerals.

So I remember during COVID, everybody was freaking out because we couldn't get the masks because they were all made in China. And then we couldn't get this because they were all made in China. We had lost and given away our industrial capacity. This is even graver. This is the rare earth minerals.

So I remember during COVID, everybody was freaking out because we couldn't get the masks because they were all made in China. And then we couldn't get this because they were all made in China. We had lost and given away our industrial capacity. This is even graver. This is the rare earth minerals.

This is the raw materials necessary for some of the things that go into our most advanced technologies in the defense realm and the military. In medicine, 80-something percent of the active ingredients in generic pharmaceuticals in the United States are made in China. We can't make them.

This is the raw materials necessary for some of the things that go into our most advanced technologies in the defense realm and the military. In medicine, 80-something percent of the active ingredients in generic pharmaceuticals in the United States are made in China. We can't make them.