S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino on Sunday that the Central American ally must immediately reduce Chinese influence over the Panama Canal area or face potential retaliation from the Trump administration.

President Trump has made a “preliminary determination” that Chinese influence violates a treaty that assures the canal's neutrality, Rubio said.

The US secretary of state told the Panamanian president that it must reduce China’s control over the canal or face retaliation from the White House.