Expat Exchange
Free MembershipSign In

Panama Expat Forum

US Vice President Mike Pence is in Panama

New Topic Newest First
panamajames
  8/17/2017 18:18 EST

At approximately 12:45 pm, US Vice President Mike Pence arrived on Panamanian soil to meet a tight schedule that includes a meeting with the President of the Republic of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, and Foreign Minister Isabel Saint Malo.

Pence, who was accompanied by his wife, Karen Sue Pence, was received by the deputy foreign minister, Luis Miguel Hincapié; The United States ambassador to Panama, John Feeley; And the ambassador of Panama in the United States, Emanuel González Revilla.

The US vice president was transferred to the locks of Cocolí, on the Pacific slope, where he will give a speech.

At the end of his visit to the enlarged Canal, he will move to the Palace of Las Garzas to meet with President Varela.

The Pence delegation is composed of the United States Ambassador to Panama, John Feeley; The Chief of Staff, Nicolas Ayers, and National Security Adviser Andrea Thompson.

Protests about the arrival of Pence:

Minutes after the arrival of Pence to Panama, a group of students from the University of Panama, the first state university, left to close the Transístmica, one of the main access roads of the capitol in protest of the visit of an American official.

Earlier, members of the National Trade Union of Construction and Similar Workers (Suntracs) and the National Front for the Defense of Economic and Social Rights of Panama (Frenadeso) are concentrated in the monument on January 9, in The avenue of the Martyrs, where they burned a cloth doll with the face of the American vice president and another one of the president Varela.

"We are demonstrating to claim our sovereignty and against our country and our Canal being used as a platform to attack other peoples," said Jorge Guzman, a member of Frenadeso.

The doctor and provisional president of the FAD, Fernando Cebamanos, considers that the visit of Pence to the Canal is a provocation.

During the demonstration, slogans were heard as "the murderer who on December 20 to this land came", referring to the invasion of the United States in 1989, which overthrew the dictatorship of Manuel Antonio Noriega.

The visit of Pence is part of the tour of Latin America, which since August 13 has taken in Colombia, Argentina, Chile and culminates today in Panama.

Panama and the United States will use this meeting to strengthen collaboration in matters of security in the region, and trade, among other issues.

http://laestrella.com.pa/panama/nacional/mike-pence-dirige-canal-panama/24018188

expatpanama2016
  8/17/2017 20:38 EST

Thanks for this update.

But, seriously, I have to ask: WHO GIVES A DAMN ???

I know I don't

Allianz CareAllianz Care
Get Quote

Allianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.

Allianz CareAllianz Care

Allianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.
Get Quote

panamajames
  8/17/2017 23:07 EST

The Canal Institute and International Studies of the University of Panama, in a public statement, warned of the 'true intentions' of the visit to the country today by the Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence.
"The real intention of Mr. Pence is to impose submission and drag us to the military intervention (against Venezuela) proclaimed by President Donald Trump," said the document, delivered to La Estrella de Panamá.
The Institute calls on President Juan Carlos Varela not to accept such a proposal and to enforce the commitment made with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which declares Latin America as a zone of peace.
"The Venezuelan people have every right to choose their way of governing and without external pressures and without prescribed formulas," says the Canal Institute, which calls for the use of Panama as a military base for conflicts with other nations.
The collegiate group states that the Panamanian people have every right to know the issues that the United States delegation will discuss with President Varela.
The statement added that 'US rulers have no friends, have interests and despise us by applying their extraterritorial regulations like the Clinton List' against Panamanian societies and people.
WATCH IN WASHINGTON:
On the other hand, a group of notable citizens sent a letter 'addressed to the citizen Juan Carlos Varela' appealing to his right as Panamanians to be informed. As an introduction to the letter, the group remembers the meeting held by President Donald Trump at the White House in June.
The signatories point out that it is normal for high-level meetings to leave questions, above all, they say, because last June's meeting was preceded by the consequences of the scandals known as 'Panama Papers', bribery by Odebrecht and pressure which the United States exercises through the 'Clinton List'. This last measure that directly affects the newspapers “The Star of Panama” and “The Century” and the right of the Panamanians to the freedoms of press, expression and company.
"It is worrying that you did not report a single detail of the meeting with Trump, except for the assertion that Panama remains a US ally," the group says.
"Strong allies in what, in the aggressions that Washington maintains against countries of the continent, in an eventual invasion of these countries, in the military mobilization developed by the United States on the continent? ", They ask who signs the letter, who asks President Varela for a detailed report of the June visit to Washington?
The letter concludes by asking that the ruler be the guarantor that the security of the Panamanians will not be threatened by conflicts that are foreign to them.

US Vice President Mike Pence today kicked off the latest leg of a tour of four Latin American countries in the Panamanian capital. President Juan Carlos Varela is one of the few leaders in the region who did not reject the "crazy" statements of the White House President Donald Trump, warning Venezuela of a "military option" by the US .
Varela is well aware of the US tactic of increasing pressure against its 'enemies', while seeking international support, to legitimize its military deployment. It is the same that Bush (father) applied in 1989 to invade Panama, causing thousands of deaths and with the sole purpose of increasing its popularity in the polls. There is no doubt that Trump has something in mind.
Of the four countries visited by Pence, Colombia and Chile denounced Trump's warmongering declarations. Argentina and Panama remained silent. USA has returned to the policy of the 'big stick and carrot'. It offers the countries of the region a carrot if they behave well. In contrast, conduct that does not align with its foreign policy is punished with the big club. Washington recently convened a meeting of 11 Latin American chancellors and the Canadian Foreign Minister in Lima, Peru. The meeting was held with the purpose of presenting a regional political bloc against the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela. The goal was not achieved and, rather, highlighted the weakness of right-wing governments in the region and their dependence on the United States.
The block 'antichavista' tries to legitimize the war against Venezuela. But it has no agenda or objectives that transcend the overthrow of the Bolivarian government. As in the case of Panama, in 1989, President Maduro's government would be replaced by US agents which would reorganize the policies for the exclusive benefit of the State Department and the large US (especially oil) companies.
There is also a regional bloc that opposes violence against Venezuela and Trump's 'military options'. This group is made up of 23 countries, an overwhelming majority of these, 9 are Latin American and 14 are from the Caribbean. They head this block for peace, the ALBA countries and the CARICOM countries.
The eleven Latin American 'anti-Chavista' governments are, by their policies and actions, neoliberal. That is, they favor the interests of the big businessmen who promote privatizations and flexibilization of labor (they applaud informality and social inequality). They do not have social policies and reject planning as a tool to govern. All the Governments that met in Lima are subject to the 'advice' of the World Bank, the IDB and the IMF.
Among the 'anti-Chavez' governments, there are three that proclaim themselves social-democratic (Costa Rica, Chile and Mexico), champions of neoliberal policies. There are four Governments that belong to the Conservative International (Argentina, Colombia, Panama and Peru). There are three other governments that are the product of coups that displaced leaders who did not have neoliberal policies (Brazil, Honduras and Paraguay). Finally, a neoliberal government, with a diffuse ideological discourse (for laughter): Guatemala.
All these 'anti-Chavez' governments are not homogeneous. Your unit is determined by the US and its policy of 'carrot and big stick' are all rotten by corruption and growing militarization. Panama is not far behind. Politically, the Panamanian government has been embroiled in all sorts of scandals that are overlooked in Washington. (The case of former President Martinelli detained in Miami is another unresolved political problem). More important on the agenda of the hawks of the American capital are the 11 bases built in the last 15 years on the two oceans that bathe the Panamanian coasts.
In principle they were to control the alleged FARC movements in Colombia and now lend themselves to any US military maneuvers against Venezuela. Washington even 'floated' the news story that the Panamanian capital could be the seat of a government in the exile of the Venezuelan 'guarimberos'. In 1987, Washington converted the Embassy of Panama into that capital city of the Government in exile in its war against the military commanded by General Noriega.
Pence's agenda today will be heavily loaded with military and geopolitical issues. There will be no room for other topics.

rudyn1
  8/18/2017 13:14 EST

I care. Panama James has provided useful insights into the experiences of those living in Panama, both here and in the past. He deserves our appreciation.

PadreJ
  8/18/2017 13:38 EST

I care. I was happy to read the article to learn of the attitudes of Panamanians regarding the U.S. and how some Panamanians feel about their identity within Latin America.

Oldcameraman
  8/18/2017 13:47 EST

I care. Head in the sand or hermit living is great for a few but being alert to happenings in our world can help us avoid some VERY unpleasant experiences in life.

Allianz CareAllianz Care
Get Quote

Allianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.

Allianz CareAllianz Care

Allianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.
Get Quote

Panama2017
  8/18/2017 14:03 EST

I care. Totally messed up the traffic on the Sur.

Panamaholmes
  8/18/2017 16:27 EST

The post is interesting, but hardly represents the views of most Panamanians to the extent it is suggesting (objectively falsely) that Venezuelans chose their current government. The democratically elected legislature was just replaced by a dictator. That's not to say the post is entirely inaccurate. I am sure folks do want the U.S. to invade Venezula, for example.

Panamaholmes
  8/18/2017 17:28 EST

That was supposed to say do not.

panamajames
  8/19/2017 11:51 EST

From: WMBGamboa
8/18/2017 10:48 AM

Thanks so much for this report! I awoke this AM wondering if he had actually visited Panamá, since there were media statements that he had been recalled to D.C. for some other meeting. I definitely "give a damn" about this and, until your two messages posted, the web has not been a useful source of information.

===================================

I am very pleased that there are so many people who do care. Maybe not so much that Mike Pence is here in Panama, but what his mission is, and is Panama going to be the staging grounds for US armed forces to deal with the unrest in Venezuela etc. Did Varela get the carrot or is he going to get the big stick. And will he tell the Panamanian people about these crucial conversations.

Allianz Care
Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Allianz CareAllianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Living in Panama GuideLiving in Panama Guide

Our Guide to Living in Panama is a perfect primer for readers interested in Panama. Covers healthcare, cost of living, best places to live, residency, visas, real estate, moving tips and the pros and cons of living in Panama.

Panama Forum Panama Forum
Join our Panama forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Panama.

Contribute to Panama Network Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Panama.

Best Places to Live in Panama Best Places to Live in Panama

If you're dreaming about living in Panama, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Panama in 2023.

Healthcare in PanamaHealthcare in Panama

Expats have differing opinions about healthcare in Panama. Many advice against public hospitals and healthcare, but some recount good experiences. This article covers public vs private healthcare, cost of healthcare, obtaining prescription medications and much more.

Cost of Living in PanamaCost of Living in Panama

Expats in Panama enjoy a relatively low cost of living. However, it's important to do your research to make sure you'll actually enjoy those saving while creating a high quality of life as an expat in Panama.

Moving to PanamaMoving to Panama Guide

Do you have to buy a round trip ticket when moving to Panama? How difficult is it to bring my dog? Should I buy a home in Panama? Can I find health

Real Estate in PanamaReal Estate in Panama

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Panama.

Pros Cons of Living in PanamaPros & Cons of Living in Panama

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Panama.

Retiring in PanamaRetiring in Panama

Advice for people retiring in Panama.

Visa and Residency PanamaPanama Visa & Residency Guide

This article covers the ins and outs of the most common tourist and residency visas that expats and global nomads obtain when moving to and living in Panama.

10 Tips for Living in Panama10 Tips for Living in Panama

If you've recently arrived in Panama, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Panama.

Allianz Care
Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Allianz CareAllianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Contribute to Panama Network Contribute
Help others in Panama by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Panama.

Allianz Care
Allianz Care

Copyright 1997-2024 Burlingame Interactive, Inc.

Privacy Policy Legal