Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino in Panama over the weekend, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a readout of their meeting.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is arguing that the presence of two Hong Kong companies and other Chinese firms violates a treaty Panama has with the U.S.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino that the Panama Canal must be rid of Chinese influence or else Panama could face retaliation from the Trump administration. Rubio made his first foreign trip as the nation’s top diplomat to Panama where he met with Mulino on Sunday.