Treaty obliges US to to defend Panama Canal, says Rubio

STATE DEPARTMENT - The United States has a treaty obligation to protect the Panama Canal if it comes under attack, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday, amid confusion and what Panama has described as 'lies' regarding whether U.S. Navy ships can transit the Panama Canal for free.

'I find it absurd that we would have to pay fees to transit a zone that we are obligated to protect in a time of conflict.