Friday
Friday 31st January 2025.
January 30, 2025
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that the Trump administration will do “whatever it takes” to ensure the “free navigation” of the Panama Canal, something the Pentagon is already “prepared” for.
Hegseth recalled in an interview on Fox News that Trump has been “clear” in this regard. The president has repeatedly confessed his intention to “recover” the canal, despite the fact that Panama has responded that there is no debate about its sovereignty.
“If they do not allow free and unhindered access, which cannot be closed by other countries, we have the right to do whatever is necessary to guarantee free navigation,” argued the Secretary of Defense, appealing to the “neutrality treaty” agreed upon almost half a century ago.
Hegseth did not want to enter into hypotheses –“I am not going to anticipate what we could do and what we could not”–, but with his statements he reiterates the line of an Administration that has gone so far as to claim that China is the de facto operator of the Canal, an accusation denied by both the Asian giant and Panama.
President José Raúl Mulino blamed former President Juan Carlos Varela (2014-2019) for questioning by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, regarding the alleged Chinese influence on the Panama Canal.
According to the president, Varela “is indirectly responsible.” This is because, according to Mulino, the former president made “a shady negotiation” when establishing diplomatic ties with China.
“Millions of dollars, among other things. But nobody asks him anything. He can’t leave the country, so he must be wandering around. He has to tell the story. Varela has to tell the story,” he added.
On June 12, 2017, the foreign ministers of Panama, Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado , and China, Wang Yi , signed a statement in which both countries began diplomatic relations.
For its part, the Taiwanese government expressed at the time its “strong discontent and indignation” over what it called a “unilateral” break and announced the end of relations with Panama.
Varela, for his part, justified his government’s decision to break decades-long diplomatic relations with Taiwan on the grounds that China “represents 20% of the world’s population and is the second largest economy in the world.”
In addition, it is the second most important user of the Canal and an important supplier of goods to the Colon Free Zone.
Mulino also mentioned that there had been previous attempts to establish relations with China, but that in the past the diplomatic situation with Taiwan had prevented this.
“I know of two historical moments where the relationship with Taiwan could have been ended and relations with China opened up. And it was not possible. So, without a doubt, it is a delicate subject, but the relationship is there. What am I going to do?”
Mulino also referred to Panama’s relationship with the United States and China , making it clear that Washington remains the country’s most important strategic partner.
Regarding the relationship with the Asian giant, the president acknowledged its economic importance and its presence in the country, but maintained that Panama continues to prioritize its ties with the United States.
“They have a significant, thriving Chinese community in Panama, from day one or even before we were a republic. I cannot ignore that. (…) It is with the United States that we have a privileged relationship, not with China.”
The United States Department of State reported this Thursday, January 30, 2025, that the United States special envoy for Latin America, Mauricio Claver-Carone , will give details about the tour that will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio .
Claver-Carone will hold a virtual press conference in Spanish, beginning at 11:00 a.m. (10:00 a.m. in Panama) this Friday, January 31, 2025, the State Department confirmed.
The U.S. delegation, led by Rubio, will visit five Latin American countries, including Panama, which would be the first on the tour.
This meeting takes place amid diplomatic tension between the two countries, after the President of the United States, Donald Trump , said that he would recover the Panama Canal , arguing that China has an alleged influence on the maritime route and that the Torrijos-Carter Treaties are not being complied with.
They are also scheduled to travel to the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala and Costa Rica.
Unofficially, it was announced that Rubio will arrive in Panama on Saturday, February 1st in the evening and that he will meet with the Panamanian president, José Raúl Mulino , on Sunday, February 2nd at noon.
Mulino stressed on Thursday, during his usual weekly press conference, that this situation must be resolved through dialogue.
Since Trump launched his threats last December, Panama has strongly rejected these statements and Mulino has reiterated that the Canal has been managed by Panamanians for 25 years and that there is no foreign influence.
The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino , stated this Thursday, January 30, 2025, that in the coming days he will speak with the new Nicaraguan ambassador to Panama about the safe conduct for former President Ricardo Martinelli , who has been in asylum at this diplomatic headquarters since February 2024.
The president announced that Jessica Yaoska Padilla Leiva will present her credentials as Nicaragua’s ambassador to our country in the coming days and that the issue of Martinelli’s exit permit will be addressed.
“In the next few days, I think tomorrow, if not next week, the new Nicaraguan ambassador will present her credentials to the foreign minister. There will be many topics discussed that could not be addressed with the previous ambassador. Now we are going to talk about it. The safe conduct is one of them ,” said Mulino this Thursday at his weekly press conference.
The president spoke about the issue after accepting an additional question at the press conference. “That’s all. Professor Cabrera asked me to ask him something,” said Mulino, and the question about the situation of former President Martinelli arose from journalist Gonzalo Lazzari of the radio program Panama en Directo .
On social media, Martinelli said yesterday Wednesday that he needs to undergo gastric surgery in a private hospital and that: “The bad thing is that it seems that there are high ranking government officials who do not want it done, as it would affect my health and they would rather see me dead.”
Regarding this claim, Mulino said he was not aware of it and that the government had not received any petition, while stating that he would not oppose a health request like this.
“I knew absolutely nothing until this morning when I heard you say something about the operation and the mortuary. I have no idea what it is about. Nor has the government received any request for any operation from any doctor. I do not respond to such a delicate issue based on Twitter. I would never oppose anyone’s health, not his, not anyone else’s,” Mulino replied to a journalist’s question.
On December 24, 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua requested the approval of Padilla Leiva from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama, following the departure of Consuelo Sandoval Meza , who resigned from the position days before.
Martinelli has been in asylum at the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama since February 7 to avoid being sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for money laundering in the New Business case. From there, the former Panamanian president has maintained an active political participation, using social media and meeting with members of his party, Realizing Goals.
If Panama requests safe conduct for Martinelli, the Nicaraguan government must begin the diplomatic process to remove him from its diplomatic headquarters in our country and transfer him to Nicaragua.
A judge in the province of Los Santos has validated a 10-year prison sentence agreement reached between the Drug Prosecutor’s Office and two Colombian citizens, who were arrested in possession of a ton and a half of cocaine that they were transporting on a boat near the vicinity of Punta Mala .
During a hearing held on January 29 at the facilities of the Accusatory Penal System of the province of Los Santos, Judge Brígido Alonso Mogoruza validated the sentencing agreement, after the defendants accepted their responsibility in the transportation of the drugs, which were destined for Central America.
The offenders were intercepted by a patrol boat of the National Maritime Service (SMN) while they were travelling in a boat with two outboard motors.
Senan agents ordered the boat to stop, which tried to escape, but was finally stopped near Punta Mala, in the province of Los Santos.
According to investigations by the Herrera and Los Santos Drug Prosecutor’s Office, the drugs left Colombia and were destined for Central America, before being transported to the United States.
Senan reports reveal that drug trafficking networks use a route near the coast of Los Santos to transport and conceal drug shipments.
In October 2024, the Drug Prosecutor’s Office dismantled a criminal network that maintained its base of operations in Punta Mala and on El Salado beach, in Aguadulce, Coclé province.
On that occasion, the authorities managed to arrest 15 people who provided logistical support to the criminal network.
On December 13, Senan seized two tons of drugs in operations carried out in Punta Mala and on the island of Punta Coco. On that occasion, the illicit substance was transported in speedboats that tried to evade the patrol boats that were pursuing them.
During 2024, security forces seized more than 117 tons of drugs in operations carried out nationwide. The largest volume of seizures was recorded on the Pacific coasts and in containers in transit through different ports.
The National Assembly’s Committee on Indigenous Affairs approved the creation of a subcommittee charged with analyzing the bill presented by Deputy Flor Brenes Medina, which proposes the creation of two new districts in the Guna Yala region: Gardi, separated from Narganá, and Uggubseni, separated from Ailigandí.
In her explanatory statement, the deputy indicates that the initiative arises in response to population growth and the need to improve the distribution of resources and services in the region. The subcommittee will be tasked with evaluating the scope and viability of the project before it is submitted for debate in the legislative plenary session .