Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino. Photo: File photo.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has stated that his country will not lend its territory for “any type of hostile act against Venezuela,” claiming that the recent deployment of US empire troops is for joint military drills under existing bilateral agreements.
The Panamanian president was asked about the US troops, who are believed to be conducting jungle drills. “Regarding Venezuela, we have nothing to do with that,” he stated this Thursday, November 13, “nor is Panama lending its territory for any hostile act against Venezuela, or against any other country in the world,” he stated.
“These are two different issues,” he added, “one thing has nothing to do with the other.” Mulino suggested that drills with US military units in Panamanian territory respond to “a protocol that is authorized by the Ministry of Security.” He specified the Darién region as a “suitable, very appropriate place for that type of training.”
“There is no military presence there that is not authorized by Panama,” he said, referring to the deployment in Darién province and at Fort Sherman, a former US Army base. Mainstream media claims the training includes combat tactics, tracking, and survival drills. However, analysts have raised attention to the new military move, noting that Panamanian governments in recent decades have shown deep submission to Washington’s dictates.
Chile and Colombia voice alarm
The statements from Panama come alongside growing regional concern. On Wednesday, Chile expressed in a statement its “deep concern” over the unprecedented US military deployment in the Caribbean.
The Chilean statement read that “Chile reaffirms its commitment to international law, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, the peaceful settlement of disputes, the prohibition of the threat or use of force, and respect for human rights as essential principles of coexistence between nations.” This is an unusual declaration by a country that has historically been very submissive to US dictates.
Similarly, Colombia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mauricio Jaramillo reiterated that his country views the US operation with concern.
Background: US escalation and regional backlash
The Chilean government’s statement comes after Washington announced the arrival of the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier, the biggest and newest US warship, along with its strike group, to the Caribbean on Tuesday. The deployment brings more than 5,000 additional troops and more warships to the region.
The US military deployment off the Venezuelan coast began last August with eight warships, F-35 fighter jets, and a nuclear-powered submarine, under the pretext of combating drug trafficking. Since then, Washington has attacked small boats across the Caribbean and the Pacific, accusing the victims of being “narco-terrorists” without presenting evidence. In these strikes, the US empire has murdered 75 civilians on 23 small boats, forcing the United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk to label them extrajudicial executions.
The US military deployment was authorized last August just hours after the US Department of Justice raised the bounty on President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million, closing the gap to the much-awaited $100 million bounty demanded for months by Venezuelan far-right politicians and US mercenaries like Erik Prince. The Venezuelan government has repeatedly condemned the US deployment and controversial strikes as a regime change operation hidden under a “war on drugs” narrative.
Colombia suspends intelligence sharing
Colombia’s deputy foreign minister explained in an interview with La Base America Latina YouTube channel why his government punished the US by stopping intelligence sharing with Washington, a decision taken hours earlier by the UK.
“This is a government that suffered when the discourse of national security was used to persecute leaders,” Jaramillo emphasized. “Petro himself had to go into exile for this reason. Intelligence has been used to violate human rights. And I don’t have to go back 50 years. It happened during Iván Duque’s administration: there were illegal surveillance operations against journalists and union leaders.”
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“For us, organized crime must be combated through cooperation,” he added. “We view with concern the decisions made by the US. We are particularly concerned about the military exercises in the Pacific and the Caribbean, because we have indications that both international law and human rights have been disregarded. Testimonies from fishing families express concern about disappearances.”
“Latin America and the Caribbean is a Zone of Peace,” he concluded, “and we must cooperate among our countries to ensure it remains so, creating a roadmap. In this sense, this government has fulfilled its commitments with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and Europe; we have never had a more backed up CELAC.”
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/AU
