This is CBSI on the World, The New World Report.

I'm John Batchewith, Professor Avanellis.

The Secretary of State, Mr. Rubio, has announced his first overseas venture will be to Central America.

Panama is included, and we will speak to that.

But right now, other states in Central America, Costa Rica mentioned,

the Dominican Republic has mentioned, though it is not Central American, is certainly part of the migration story, the DR, because it shares a landmass with Haiti where there's nothing but trouble.

Costa Rica is a very friendly power, certainly. Guatemala is a very friendly power. And yet, Professor, just a comment here, we have a

couple of minutes before we get to Panama. The Secretary of State has to deal with the

Darien Gap. Do you believe that will be part of the conversation? Because many of these countries

have allowed migrants without documents to flow through their territory, knowing they're headed to

the Mexico. Is that going to come up in these discussions?

I do think that the Darien Gap will be part of the discussion, but perhaps on this

trip, not the most important part of the discussion, although I think that could come up

in later extended conversations with Panama.

A couple of things that are notable.

Number one was the choice of Central America

and the Dominican Republic rather than Mexico or other places where Secretary Rubio could have

gone in his first trip. Again, I think that shows the importance that President Trump puts on

the migration issue and dealing with some of those things. Number two, the states that were not

included. And so it's

notable, of course, that, you know, anti-U.S. regime of, you know, in Nicaragua was not included,

nor was the Honduran regime of Shia Maracastro included. And so I think that was intended to send a clear

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