Two politicians who spoke out against recent accords between the United States and Panama lost their permission to travel to the United States.
The U.S. State Department revoked the travel visas of a former president of Panama and a Panamanian presidential candidate, a move the politicians said was direct retaliation for speaking out against recent deals their country made with President Trump.
Martín Torrijos, who was president of Panama from 2004 to 2009, announced at a news conference on Monday that he had been notified by the U.S. government that his visa had been canceled. Ricardo Lombana, a lawyer who came in second in Panama’s presidential election last year, said he received word in an email on Monday that his visa had also been yanked.
“I want to warn you that this is not just about me, and not just in my capacity as former president of the republic,” Mr. Torrijos said. “This is a warning to all Panamanians that criticism of the Panamanian government’s actions regarding its relations with the United States will not be tolerated.”
The visa revocations came after months of tensions between Panama and Mr. Trump, who quickly after taking office vowed to take back the Panama Canal, which was built by the United States, but returned to Panama by President Jimmy Carter.
Panama’s current president, José Raúl Mulino, vowed to stand up for Panama’s sovereignty but then took measures that his critics called concessions to Mr. Trump. Mr. Mulino agreed to accept non-Panamanian migrants deported from the United States and signed an agreement that would allow more U.S. troops on three former U.S. bases in Panama.
The United States said Mr. Mulino had also agreed to waive the fees American warships pay to transit the canal — a deal Mr. Mulino denied making, but later agreed to.
