By ALMA SOLÍS
PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panama President José Raúl Mulino stated Thursday that somebody on the U.S. Embassy has been threatening to cancel the visas of Panamanian officers because the Trump administration pressures Panama to restrict its ties to China.
U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera stated in a press release Thursday that “a visa is a privilege, not a right.”
He cited a U.S. coverage introduced in September by the State Division to limit visas to Central Americans who act on behalf of the Chinese language Communist Social gathering to undermine the rule of legislation within the area. “We revoke and deny visas according to our laws and regulations, without regard to the profession or position of the individual in the government.”
However in September, the U.S. State Division stated in a press release that the U.S. was dedicated to countering China’s affect in Central America and would limit visas for individuals who maintained relationships with China’s Communist Social gathering or undermined democracy within the area on behalf of China.
Earlier this week, the Trump administration revoked the visas of six foreigners deemed by U.S. officers to have made derisive feedback or made gentle of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk final month.
Related instances have surfaced lately within the area. In April, former Costa Rica President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias stated the U.S. had canceled his visa. In July, Vanessa Castro, vice chairman of Costa Rica’s Congress, stated that the U.S. Embassy informed her the U.S. had revoked her visa citing alleged contacts with the Chinese language Communist Social gathering.
Panama has develop into particularly delicate to the U.S.-China tensions due to the strategically essential Panama Canal.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama in February on his first overseas journey as the highest U.S. diplomat and known as for Panama to instantly cut back China’s affect over the canal. Panama has strongly denied Chinese language affect over canal operations, however has gone together with U.S. strain for the Hong Kong-based firm working ports on each ends of the canal to promote its concession to a U.S. consortium.
Mulino has stated that Panama will keep the canal’s neutrality.
“They’re free to give and take a visa to anyone they want, but not threatening that if you don’t do something, I’ll take the visa,” Mulino stated Thursday. He famous that the underlying concern — the battle between the U.S. and China — “doesn’t involve Panama.”
Initially Revealed: October 16, 2025 at 7:32 PM EDT
