With the recent visit of the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to countries such as Panama, in Central America, triggers the fight for supremacy between Washington and Beijing in the region.

Meanwhile, during a brief encounter between Rubio and India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, India appears to have been frankly told that New Delhi’s soft pedaling with China is not acceptable to the Trump Administration.

In spite of the much trumpeted rhetoric in the Indian media about how India is fortifying her resources to pick up the gauntlet against China, it is being observed in Washington that New Delhi is reluctant to take any substantial measures even in discontinuing heavy imports of consumer goods needs from China. Even the cottage industries, which were giving employment to millions of Indians and catering to the daily needs, in India, these industries have been allowed to close down during the past 10 years. It has enabled the Chinese to penetrate the Indian markets of consumer goods without any hassle. Earlier, the policy of prohibiting the big industry to manufacture the goods earmarked for the small and medium enterprises has also been done away by the present government. Maybe, it was done on the advice of Beijing.

With the action-packed policies, now being vigorously pursued in foreign as well as in domestic affairs by Washington for reining-in China,  Rubio has ensured that China concedes American interest in the region.

The message is clear that the 200-year old Monroe doctrine will remain the keystone of US policy in the Americas.

In 1823, President James Monroe had spelt out that the European powers would not be allowed to interfere in the western hemisphere. The US would be reciprocating by not interfering in the affairs of Europe. Washington now has decided to use it against the Chinese penetration in the region.

The issue is whether the Monroe doctrine could be evoked to prevent the growing financial and strategic presence of Beijing in the region.The Monroe doctrine has never been validated by any international forum. It may be recalled that during the 1962 standoff between the then US President John F. Kennedy, and the strongman of the then USSR, Nikita Khurshev, the US had finally succeeded in preventing the USSR from deploying missiles loaded with nuclear weapons in Cuba. With the retreat of the USSR, on this issue, the American opposition of setting up missiles with nuclear weapons was validated by invoking the Monroe doctrine.

It appears that the Trump Administration has already decided to invoke this American assertion in the Western hemisphere. It however, is to be ascertained yet whether China would concede to Washington on this issue.

Panama Retreats : A few days before the visit of the top American diplomat to his country, the Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, who was keen to assert his country’s sovereignty, had refused to concede any American role in the management of the Panama Canal. It was being stated that the American company which had constructed the canal has already been allowed to obtain the profits and also the capital invested in the Panama Canal, a 82-kilometre waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean. It was built by the US in 1914, and Panama got its full control in 1999.

According to the Panamanian  authorities, the US has no locus-standi in the management and functioning of the Canal. Apart from allowing Chinese to manage the canal, they have also signed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Beijing. However, with the high- profile visit, they have also decided to discontinue this agreement with Beijing. It is natural for Washington to be happy with the recently held negotiations with Panama.

Rubio’s Initiative : In an interview Rubio’s policy regarding the ongoing Panama Canal Negotiations  in Focus, just on the eve of his visit to Central America; US has demanded that they must reduce Chinese Influence Over Canal or US Will Act. During a January 30 interview with Megyn Kelly of The Megyn Kelly Show, he also stated that “One of the main investments the Chinese have is in these two port facilities on both sides of the canal. And all kinds of other infrastructure, cranes and the like,” Rubio said,”all this is not acceptable to us”.

He further stated that while the company engaged in these activities is from Hong Kong, it still comes under the control of the Chinese regime. He also shared his national security concerns with President José Mulino and Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha in a Panama City meeting on Feb. 2.

Rubio told them that President Donald Trump has determined that “the current penetration of China in the region is not acceptable. Within the next three months, India too would be told to take effective steps against the  Dragon.

Gopal Misra has been associated with national and international media. His books on journalism and geo-politics have been well-appreciated. Views are personal.