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.

U.S. top diplomat Marco Rubio warned Panama to immediately take steps to address U.S. concerns over Chinese businesses operating ports near the canal, which President Donald Trump has said represent a threat to U.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told Panama’s president that the Central American ally must reduce Chinese influence over the Panama Canal area or face potential retaliation from the Trump administration.