Sanctions against the Maduro regime are already having a direct impact on Panama after Washington included “a Panamanian and ships under the Panamanian flag” in sanctions against oil tankers linked to Caracas. “We are already being impacted. The strategic objectives of the United States are Colombia and Venezuela… and we are left as the weakest link,” he explained. He emphasized that Panama is the only land border between the scenarios of greatest tension, Colombia and Venezuela, and a stable territory of the hemisphere, which turns the Darién into a potential area of destabilization. “Yes, we have a risk of destabilization on our Colombian-Panamanian border,” he stressed. The conflict between the United States and Venezuela in the Caribbean has already reached a “hot phase” thanks to the U.S. military operation “Southern Spear,” and this new hemispheric security architecture places the isthmus, due to its canal, strategic position, and financial role, at the center of the pressure. “They have already dragged us in,” the retired colonel stated bluntly. In his view, Panama is trapped between two poles of pressure: Petro-Maduro on one side, and the United States on the other. “Now we are subjected to the pressure of Petro-Maduro and the United States,” he said. Sanctions and Collateral Effects The analyst also warned that the designation of organizations as “Foreign Terrorist Organizations” (FTO) and the use of lawfare by the U.S. open a wide range of offensive actions against state or private actors that directly or indirectly support the sanctioned. “Any person, government, or entity that provides material support or resources can be subject to severe sanctions,” he stated. Camargo also mentioned recent leaks of alleged intelligence reports disclosed in the media, which, he said, are part of operations aimed at “destabilizing allied governments.” Final Warning: Prioritize the Nation, Not Business The retired colonel emphasized that in times of military escalation, doing business with actors linked to governments considered threats becomes a direct risk to Panama's national security. “Defending the homeland means not doing business with the enemies of your strategic partner,” he sentenced. “National interests and the common good must be prioritized, not the economic benefits of transient elites,” he assured.
