In brief
The U.S. State Department has canceled the travel visas of former Panamanian President Martín Torrijos and presidential candidate Ricardo Lombana, citing their vocal criticism of recent accords between Panama and the Trump administration. Torrijos openly condemned the visa revocation as a warning to anyone opposing the current government's dealings with the U.S. The tensions stem from Trump's earlier claims to reclaim the Panama Canal and Panama's compliance with U.S. demands, which have drawn allegations of treason against current President José Raúl Mulino from his constituents.
Panama's current political climate reflects a growing divide over its relationship with the United States, with leaders caught between national sovereignty and ongoing negotiations. Recent U.S.-Panama accords allowed for U.S. troop presence in Panama and other contentious migratory terms, intensifying local backlash against governmental decisions.
