Panama’s opposition parties are opposed to deals that will allow the deployment of US troops to Central American countries.
Panama’s opposition politicians accused the US of launching a “stray invasion” by the US after President Donald Trump confirmed the deployment of US soldiers a few days after the two countries signed a security agreement.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses confirmed Thursday that a memorandum of understanding has been reached between the US and Panama authorities to secure the “Panamana Canal from China’s impact.”
“The Panama Canal is an important terrain that must be secured by Panama along with the United States, not China,” Hegus said in a statement Wednesday during his three-day trip to Panama.
Hegseth said a contract with the Panama Canal Authority would connect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and allow “first and free” passages to pass “first and free” through the canal, the main conduit of world trade.
He added that as part of a deal signed with the Department of Public Safety in Panama, the US military will be deployed to three former military bases: Fort Sherman, Rodman Naval Base and Howard Air Force Base. The last US military was drawn from the country in 1999.
“Invade without firing a shot”
In a video posted on social media on Friday, opposition leader Ricardo Lombana called the “invasion that doesn’t fire shots,” a different road movement called the Memorandum of Understanding that reached between the US and Panama governments a few days ago.
An agreement was reached after a three-day visit by US Secretary of Defense Hegses.
On Thursday, President Trump confirmed that US soldiers and military personnel had been deployed to Panama as part of the deal, and told reporters, “We have moved a lot of our troops to Panama.”
These are not “military bases” and despite the claims by the Panama government that the deal is temporary, the opposition believes the US has reestablished its military presence within the country.
“Whatever you call it, what you read in this memo is the establishment of a military base,” said opposition leader Lombana.
He added that it is the “solid step” slogan that the government now uses in its political message: “put pressure on your knees.”
The last US military base in Panama evacuated in 1999 as part of the Torijos Carter Treaty, which was signed in 1977 with the aim of passing control of the canal to Panama.
The US also invaded Panama in 1989 as part of what was called the “Operation Just Cone” and left its leader Manuel Noriega.
The US military left a controversial legacy, accused of killing thousands of civilians during surgery and destroying homes and infrastructure during surgery.
That’s part of the reason why frustration is growing in Panama over Trump’s declaration that Panama intends to “recover” the Panama Canal.
The US refused to grant Panama’s ownership over the canal as part of negotiations that led to the defense agreement signed earlier this week.
Panama’s opposition, together with local chapters of Transparent International, who work to promote more responsible governance practices, calls on the government to inform the state of the exact content of the agreement with the US.
China has deeply criticized the agreement, claiming it views the Panama Canal as a permanent, neutral international passage.
The canal handles about 40% of US container traffic and 5% of global trade.