U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is heading to Central America on Monday in what is his first oversees trip since being confirmed as the top U.S. diplomat.

Washington, DC.- Newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to embark on his inaugural tour, which includes a visit to the Dominican Republic and several other Latin American countries.

Former U.S. senator from Florida Marco Rubio jumps into new role as secretary of state with flurry of phone calls, planned trip to Panama.

The directive follows President Donald Trump’s executive order Monday pausing new obligations and disbursements of foreign aid pending review.

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader expressed gratitude to U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, recently nominated for Secretary of State, for acknowledging the Dominican Republic’s progress compared to other nations in the region during a U.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Panama on his first trip abroad as the top U.S. diplomat after President

Rubio is expected to visit Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic, according to the Department of State

Marco Rubio will head overseas late next week; he's also scheduled to visit Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

Tensions between the U.S. and China have been rising for some time now, and Rubio's appointment has widely been seen as a sign that Trump plans to maintain a hard line on China during his second term. One of the most outspoken China hawks in Washington, Rubio has introduced several bills targeting the Chinese Communist Party.

Marco Rubio will travel to Panama on his first trip abroad as secretary of State. The visit comes as Donald Trump looks to reclaim Panama's canal.

The new Secretary of State already has said the Hong Kong-based operator of Panama Canal-adjacent ports could be a “big national security and defense problem.”

China's expanding footprint in Latin America is expected to be high on the agenda when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits Panama next week on his first overseas trip since taking office, according to observers.