Rubio says Trump's interest in Greenland and Panama Canal is legit and driven by China concerns

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Rubio says Trump’s interest in Greenland and Panama Canal is legit and driven by China concerns

By MATTHEW LEE
Updated 5:54 PM EST, January 30, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio says President Donald Trump’s desire to acquire Greenland and retake control of the Panama Canal is driven by legitimate national security interests stemming from growing concerns about Chinese activity and influence in the Arctic and in Latin America.

Ahead of a trip to Central America that will start in Panama this weekend, Rubio said Thursday that he could not predict if Trump would succeed in buying Greenland from Denmark or restoring American authority over the Panama Canal while he is office. But he said the attention that Trump will give to both would have an impact.

“What I think you can rest assured of is that four years from now, our interest in the Arctic will be more secure; our interest in the Panama Canal will be more secure,” Rubio said in an interview with SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/rubio-trump-panama-canal-greenland-cf950b07453035d3e25d23807bc136e8