US EditionPanama president says US Embassy threatened to cancel visas over ties to China
Panama's president says U.S. Embassy pressured officials with visa threats amid Washington's efforts to reduce Chinese influence in Central America, including restricting visas linked to China.
- Panama President José Raúl Mulino said Thursday someone at the U.S. Embassy in Panama threatened to cancel visas as the Trump administration pressures Panama to limit ties to China.
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama in February and urged immediate reduction of Chinese influence, while Panama denied control but agreed to a Hong Kong-based company selling its port concession to a U.S. consortium.
- Earlier this week, the Trump administration revoked visas of six foreigners over comments about an assassination last month, while former Costa Rica President Oscar Arias and Vanessa Castro reported similar cancellations.
- The U.S. Embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Mulino stressed Panama will maintain the canal's neutrality, saying the U.S.-China conflict 'doesn't involve Panama'.
- The U.S. Department of State said it is committed to countering China’s influence in Central America, citing visa restrictions on contacts with China’s Communist Party and similar cases recently.
57 Articles
57 Articles
Panama’s president, José Raúl Mulino, this Thursday denounced U.S. pressure on Panamanian officials to reduce the presence of Chinese companies in their country. Since before taking office, in January, U.S. president Donald Trump threatened to recover the Panama Canal on the grounds that the interoceanic route is under Beijing’s control. Now, according to Mulino, U.S. embassy personnel in Panama threatened to withdraw entry visas for Panamanian …
Panama. Panama’s president, José Raúl Mulino, yesterday denounced U.S. pressure on government officials to reduce the presence of Chinese companies in his country.
US Ambassador to Panama, Kevin Marino Cabrera, recalls that "a visa is a privilege, not a right" and points out that visas are granted or revoked "in accordance with laws and regulations".
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