Ricardo Lombana, president of the Movimiento Otro Camino (MOCA), confirmed that he was contacted by the United States Embassy after signing the declaration "National Unity and Defense of Sovereignty," which rejects the recent memorandum of understanding between Panama and the U.S. While he valued the strategic relationship with the United States, Lombana stated that "there is no reason to trample on us or mop the global floor with the name of Panama."
In an interview with Radio Panama, Lombana revealed that the telephone conversation with the U.S. Embassy was respectful but showed the officials’ displeasure at his statement. Although other leaders, such as Rómulo Roux, were invited to join the declaration, they chose not to do so. However, Lombana defended his stance as "nationalist, pro-country, and pro-legalist."
The president of MOCA pointed out that the signed memorandum violates both the Canal Neutrality Treaty and the Constitution and legislation of Panama, urging the Supreme Court to take action regarding this. So far, the U.S. Embassy has not issued an official reaction to Lombana's statements, who has urged them to be more concerned about the fundamental issues of the bilateral relationship.
In this regard, Lombana challenged the U.S. Embassy by stating that Panama will not allow its sovereign principles to be violated. Despite the pressures that may arise from this situation, the former presidential candidate asserts that his visa for the United States remains valid and that his commitment is to protect the interests of his country, respecting the laws and national sovereignty.
