Two politicians in Panama who criticized recent agreements with the United States have had their travel visas revoked. The U.S. State Department's decision affects a former president of Panama and a presidential candidate, both of whom claim the revocation is retaliation for their outspoken opposition to the accords made with President Trump.
Former President MartÃn Torrijos, who held office from 2004 to 2009, announced in a news conference that he was informed of his visa cancellation by the U.S. government. Presidential candidate Ricardo Lombana, who finished second in last year’s election, also reported receiving notification of his visa cancellation via email.
Torrijos warned that this situation extends beyond his personal case, emphasizing that it should serve as a caution to all Panamanians about the repercussions of criticizing the government’s dealings with the United States.
The visa cancellations occurred amid rising tensions between Panama and Trump, especially following Trump's comments regarding the Panama Canal, which was returned to Panama in an agreement with the U.S. government.
Current President José Raúl Mulino has faced criticism for what some view as concessions to the U.S., including agreements to accept deported migrants and allow a greater U.S. military presence at former bases in Panama. The U.S. has also claimed Mulino agreed to waive fees for American warships transiting the canal, a point Mulino denied before later confirming.
Both Torrijos and Lombana were among about 1,500 signatories of an open letter denouncing the recent agreements as detrimental to national sovereignty. Their unified stance came after a visit from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, which they regarded as a move to secure U.S. interests in the region and counter China's influence.
The State Department has refrained from providing specifics on the visa revocations, citing confidentiality. It noted that possessing a U.S. visa is a privilege rather than a right.
In response to criticism of the agreements, Carlos Ruiz-Hernández, a former deputy foreign minister of Panama, accused the opposition politicians of exaggerating the accords, which he described as standard military training memorandums. He defended Mulino’s actions, asserting that the president has at times pushed back against the Trump administration.
Torrijos and Lombana argue that their opposition has resulted in their exclusion from the U.S., contrasting this punitive measure with past instances where former Panamanian presidents had their visas revoked due to corruption allegations. Lombana emphasized that the agreements violate Panamanian laws and the Constitution, highlighting public discontent regarding discrepancies between the Spanish and English versions of their joint communiqué, particularly regarding sovereignty.
Both politicians expressed that their commitment to defending Panama's interests takes precedence over their ability to travel to the U.S. Torrijos declared pride in rejecting foreign military presence, even at the cost of having his visa revoked.