Tom Bateman

The clashes in the run-up to Mr Rubio's visit were small-scale, some led by a well-known union leader, but the resistance to Mr Trump's sudden policy pronouncements for Panama is broad, including from its conservative president, José Raúl Molino. For weeks now, including at his inauguration, President Trump has said he wants America to take back the Panama Canal.

He said it was being run by China and falsely claimed Chinese soldiers were operating it and that American ships were unfairly charged more than others. The waterway is in fact owned and operated by the Panamanian government under a neutrality treaty signed with the US decades ago. However, Chinese companies have invested heavily in ports and terminals near the canal.

He said it was being run by China and falsely claimed Chinese soldiers were operating it and that American ships were unfairly charged more than others. The waterway is in fact owned and operated by the Panamanian government under a neutrality treaty signed with the US decades ago. However, Chinese companies have invested heavily in ports and terminals near the canal.

The visit by Mr Rubio, the first Hispanic Secretary of State and a China hawk, is meant to signal a growing intolerance to countries soaking up Chinese investment in what the US sees as its own backyard.

The visit by Mr Rubio, the first Hispanic Secretary of State and a China hawk, is meant to signal a growing intolerance to countries soaking up Chinese investment in what the US sees as its own backyard.

But the muscular approach of President Trump, who when asked by reporters even refused to rule out military action to get the canal back, has aroused strongly patriotic sentiment in this small strategic nation. US officials say Mr Rubio's visit is meant to help reinstate a golden age of the Americas by building economic cooperation and tackling migration. Tom Bateman.

But the muscular approach of President Trump, who when asked by reporters even refused to rule out military action to get the canal back, has aroused strongly patriotic sentiment in this small strategic nation. US officials say Mr Rubio's visit is meant to help reinstate a golden age of the Americas by building economic cooperation and tackling migration. Tom Bateman.

We are thrilled, we are so happy, we are crying all day because Keith is a close friend of mine and he came back after a long, long time. We want all the 79 hostages that left there to come and return home.

We are thrilled, we are so happy, we are crying all day because Keith is a close friend of mine and he came back after a long, long time. We want all the 79 hostages that left there to come and return home.

What's up, Stick Nation in Angat, Philippines. Hello, Stick Nation. I'm Max from Belgium. All right, Stick Nation, we are at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. It is a magical sword with healing properties.

What's up, Stick Nation in Angat, Philippines. Hello, Stick Nation. I'm Max from Belgium. All right, Stick Nation, we are at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. It is a magical sword with healing properties.

I think it was an attempt really at a victory lap, a valedictory pronouncement on his four years of foreign policy. But of course, coming against the backdrop that he's in a position he never wanted to be, which is he took over from Donald Trump, thinking of himself as the man both domestically and in terms of its impact on foreign policy that could ensure there would never be another election.

I think it was an attempt really at a victory lap, a valedictory pronouncement on his four years of foreign policy. But of course, coming against the backdrop that he's in a position he never wanted to be, which is he took over from Donald Trump, thinking of himself as the man both domestically and in terms of its impact on foreign policy that could ensure there would never be another election.

Trump presidency, and yet here he is acting as effectively the bridge between two Trump terms in the White House. So attempting, I think, to shore up his legacy when it comes to foreign policy, a lot of the focus on that was about support for Ukraine and about policy as they see it of successfully managing competition with China.

Trump presidency, and yet here he is acting as effectively the bridge between two Trump terms in the White House. So attempting, I think, to shore up his legacy when it comes to foreign policy, a lot of the focus on that was about support for Ukraine and about policy as they see it of successfully managing competition with China.

So, you know, a standing ovation among his VIP diplomats and staff here in the very sort of august Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room here in the State Department. Many outside the room, I think, might take a more critical appraisal of his impact. But that was how he wanted to set it out in front of his staff, attempting to define his legacy.

So, you know, a standing ovation among his VIP diplomats and staff here in the very sort of august Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room here in the State Department. Many outside the room, I think, might take a more critical appraisal of his impact. But that was how he wanted to set it out in front of his staff, attempting to define his legacy.

Yeah. And it was I mean, I think that was one of the areas where his critics might say it felt like he was in the strongest form of denial because he very much portrayed that as a as a success in terms of the withdrawal, not necessarily the operation itself. But he was saying, you know, he was the first American president to hand over.

Yeah. And it was I mean, I think that was one of the areas where his critics might say it felt like he was in the strongest form of denial because he very much portrayed that as a as a success in terms of the withdrawal, not necessarily the operation itself. But he was saying, you know, he was the first American president to hand over.

to another one in quite some time without American troops still fighting in Afghanistan. But of course, that has been something that his opponents have used as a political stick to beat him with repeatedly about what they have seen as the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. So I think that was perhaps pushing against what many of his opponents would see as the situation there.