Mike Pompeo a skip and hop through Panama

U.S. Secretary of State  Mike Pompeo, fresh from his journey to Saudi Arabia to try to get answers from his hosts about the killing of  American resident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey will arrive in Panama on Thursday, October 18.

He will meet with President Juan Carlos Varela and Vice President Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado to  discuss “the current collaboration between the United States and Panama, on regional priorities, including the defense of democracy in Venezuela and Nicaragua, and on anti-narcotics, counter-terrorism, and illegal migration issues,” according to a release issued by the State Department.

US Embassy heads  from several  regional countries were recently summoned to Washington to discuss China’s growing presence

Before he’ s got time to dip his feet in the canal on  Friday, after the mandatory photo-op  Pompeo will fly to Mexico to meet with President-Elect Enrique Peña Nieto and  Foreign Relations Secretary Luis Videgaray Case, and the designated Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Marcelo Luis Ebrard Casaubon.

“Secretary Pompeo will reaffirm the commitment of the United States to cooperate with both the current administration and the incoming administration of President-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador on economic issues, shared security challenges and the reduction of illegal immigration,” said a press release, with no mention of a border wall.