Marco Rubio’s choice of Latin America for his first trip abroad as top US diplomat reinforces two of President Donald Trump’s priorities early in his second term — deportations and securing the Panama Canal from perceived Chinese control.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio's first stop this weekend will be Panama City as Trump' administration shifts back Washington's focus to Latin America.

Envoy for special missions RICHARD GRENELL is in Caracas today and met with Venezuelan leader NICOLÁS MADURO. His trip comes as Trump has stated his continued interest in deporting thousands of Venezuelan migrants and addressing the major migration crisis the South American country’s political turmoil has created.

The unprecedented pause and potential elimination of many U.S. foreign assistance programs, announced in President Trump’s executive order “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid,” has caused shock waves worldwide.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic from Feb. 1-6, the State Department said in a statement on Friday.

The U.S. president is resurrecting tactics from his first term and promising a more aggressive approach to migrant flows. Regional leaders are responding.