Panama

[Crafty_Dog]

Thanks to influence of MY, giving Panama its own thread:

https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/trouble-in-panama?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=459345&post_id=138718619&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=z2120&utm_medium=email


A lot to absorb here.

[Crafty_Dog]

Important charts and maps not surviving the posting here:

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

November 10, 2023
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Panama’s Post-Canal Economy Takes Shape
The country is looking for solutions beyond its traditional economic engine.
By: Allison Fedirka

Throughout 2023, the Panama Canal Authority has introduced various restrictions on the size and frequency of vessels transiting the canal amid an extended period of low water levels. Just last week, authorities reduced the daily number of available bookings for passage from 31 to 25. These conditions highlight the fundamental need for Panama to diversify its economy beyond the canal and related services. The transition already appears to be underway.

The Panama Canal serves as the main transit point between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, facilitating trade between the U.S. and Asia and connecting markets in Latin America, Europe and Canada. Approximately 5-6 percent of all seaborne trade passes through the canal. However, the global economy is undergoing a reorganization, part of which is reflected in changing trade patterns, which will have deep implications for Panama’s economy. Since the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic, global trade has rebounded slowly, with the volume of total trade growing annually by just 2.4 percent last year and an expected 1.7 percent this year. Meanwhile, due to a number of crises around the world, some of the trade that was previously conducted through the Panama Canal has been diverted to other routes. For example, U.S. fuel and gas supplies that were previously destined for Asian markets are now being sold to European customers, meaning these suppliers no longer need passage through the canal to get their goods to market.

Panama Canal | Shipping Volume by Country
(click to enlarge)

For Panama, this is an existential issue given the canal’s critical role in the country’s economy. According to the U.S. International Trade Administration, 80 percent of Panama’s gross domestic product is accumulated through the services sector – the largest contributor to which is the canal. Even other contributors like banking, logistics, activities in the Colon Free Trade Zone, insurance, container ports and flagship registry revolve around canal operations.

However, this arrangement is problematic not just because of the lack of economic diversification but also because it leaves Panama’s economy at the mercy of two factors out of the country’s control: global trade and water levels at the canal. Regarding trade, the shipping industry has been affected by a number of recent challenges, including container ship overcapacity, military conflicts (especially in the Middle East) and new environmental regulations. Maersk, the world’s second largest ocean carrier, announced on Nov. 3 that it will cut 3,500 jobs over the next few months on top of the 6,500 positions it eliminated earlier this year. The company said the move is pre-emptive and part of a strategy to weather challenging prospects the industry is anticipating for 2024.

In addition, declining water levels have forced canal authorities to repeatedly adjust operations. A severe drought in Panama, exacerbated by the El Nino effect, has resulted in an 80 percent decline in rainfall in the basins that feed into the canal. That authorities have already said they will limit passage to 18 vessels a day starting in February 2024 indicates that they don’t see the situation improving any time soon. The restrictions in crossings will result in rising toll prices and longer wait times, which will in turn increase transport costs for exporters and the price of goods for consumers. It was recently reported that two liquefied petroleum gas carriers turned around within 10 miles of the canal and sailed away, presumably due to high fees and delays. It's not unreasonable to believe that more companies will eventually seek alternate routes to protect their bottom lines.

Global Trade and GDP Growth
(click to enlarge)Global Trade Volume Projections
(click to enlarge)

The Panamanian government has over the years adopted measures it believed would guarantee that the canal could adapt to changes in global shipping. The country had gradually structured its banking sector in such a way to attract international business, which helped it generate profits through its canal operations. And in 2016, Panama completed a major expansion project that allowed the canal to accommodate larger shipping vessels and remain a major transit route for international companies. But the recent changes in shipping patterns and environmental conditions have added urgency to the government’s efforts. In recent months, talks have accelerated on building a dry canal, something the country has considered for years. In October, the Panama Maritime Chamber called on the government to expedite the project, especially as Mexico and Colombia are considering construction of alternate transport routes. The government is also developing other areas of the economy unrelated to the canal through its Sexta Frontera initiative.

The most recent and potentially impactful move, however, has been its bid to get Panama off the Financial Action Task Force’s gray list of countries that require increased monitoring for failing to impose measures to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. Panama was on the gray list from 2014 to 2016 due to its banking sector’s lack of compliance with FATF standards and over concerns that the country was acting as a tax haven. It was relisted in 2019 but removed just last month.

The FATF is essentially a tool for likeminded countries to publicly shame governments that don’t comply with its expectations but has no authority to directly enforce its standards. Instead, countries are encouraged to adopt certain practices in order to avoid ending up on the watchdog’s gray and black lists. The organization has the sole power to add or remove countries from its lists and monitors progress on adoption and implementation of international rules for fighting money laundering. Many economists and financial institutions have tried to quantify the effects of FAFT listings on a country’s economy. A working paper by the International Monetary Fund concluded that countries on the gray list saw capital inflow declines of 7.6 percent of GDP on average, while foreign direct investment inflows decreased by an estimated 3 percent of GDP.

Appearing on an FATF list is a barrier to international business in a number of ways. Companies doing business with listed countries may need to perform extra due diligence to ensure all transactions are aboveboard, which could involve additional costs. It could also reduce a government’s access to capital and lead to lost business opportunities and reduced investor confidence. Thus, Panama’s removal from the list will aid its efforts to attract more investors and diversify its economy.

Even despite the FATF designation, the country’s economy performed remarkably well over the past decade. From 2014 to 2019, Panama’s GDP grew at an average rate of 4.7 percent, well above the regional average of 1.1 percent. Over this same period, Panama’s net FDI inflows were between $4 billion and $5.25 billion annually, according to the World Bank, the highest levels since 1977, when the bank began releasing the figures. Obviously, the country’s GDP and FDI took a hit in 2020 because of the pandemic, but both have since rebounded strongly.

Panama | GDP Growth
(click to enlarge)
Panama | FDI and GDP
(click to enlarge)

Diversifying a national economy is easier said than done. There are several factors working in Panama’s favor, most notably the country’s financial system. Panama has fully institutionalized dollarization, and there are no exchange controls or restrictions on the movement of capital. Credit from established lenders is readily accessible, and the country boasts an active and modern capital market. But Panama also has a number of economic challenges to overcome, including social obstacles to diversification. Some segments of the population may be resistant to new types of economic activity – signs of which were on full display during recent protests over foreign-run mining operations. In addition, investments are unevenly distributed throughout the country, with large disparities between indigenous communities and urban dwellers. While solutions to these problems remain elusive, one thing is clear: Panama’s ability to maximize its global position will depend as much on its ability to manage the canal as on its efforts to diversify and integrate the national economy.

[Crafty_Dog]

https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/china-camp-is-a-terrorist-bus-station?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=459345&post_id=142318126&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=z2120&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

[Crafty_Dog]

Second

Obviously this is a matter of Homeland Security, and to put it in Latin America would lead it to being hard to find down the road, so I am thinking Panama deserves its own thread, not only for Homeland issues, but to dial in on Chinese footprint, and establishing trail for its flood of fifth column agents.

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

https://michaelyon.locals.com/upost/5287591/share-everywhere

[ccp]

Borrowing the concept "Montezuma's revenge" we can label the Dorian gap as "Noriega's revenge":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Noriega

[Crafty_Dog]

Darien Gap IIRC , , ,

[Crafty_Dog]

https://rumble.com/v4hw3fl-their-goal-is-civil-war-in-the-u.s.-americans-vs-illegal-aliens-redacted-wi.html

[Crafty_Dog]

December 23, 2024
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The Panama Canal: Hostage to the US-China Trade War?
Ultimately, it’s highly unlikely Washington will take control of this mutually beneficial waterway.
By: Allison Fedirka

In November 1906, Theodore Roosevelt became the first sitting U.S. president to make a diplomatic visit outside the continental United States, sailing to Panama to view the construction of the Panama Canal. In September 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed a treaty that would ultimately give Panama full control and operation over the canal in 2000. And in December 2025, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump threatened to retake the canal from Panama. The chances of this happening are slim, of course. But like most political rhetoric, his comments denote larger goals and aspirations – in this case, Trump’s domestic agenda, which likely includes a trade war with China. The U.S.-Panama relationship is merely a hostage to that agenda.

Control over the Panama Canal gave Washington a valuable source of revenue and immense geopolitical influence. Since the 1500s, explorers and entrepreneurs had dreamed of a path that would drastically cut the time and resources required to cross from one ocean to the other: Sea transit between the U.S. east and west coasts was a weekslong, 13,000-mile journey. Alfred Thayer Mahan, the naval and geopolitical writer, knew that U.S. control of the Central American isthmus, and the possibility of a trans-isthmus canal, would be pivotal for the projection of U.S. military and commercial power. Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt, both former military officers, were keenly aware of the isthmus’s strategic value. Grant commissioned a series of expedition surveys to identify possible locations and assess construction feasibility. Roosevelt later oversaw the creation of the U.S. Great White Fleet and canal construction.

The relationship between the U.S. and Panama is more nuanced. When conflict levels are low, the countries’ geopolitical interests align nicely. Washington ultimately wants the secure passage of goods and, relatedly, the prevention of any military not native to the Western Hemisphere from gaining influence in Panama. For its part, Panama needs to control the territory within its modern borders, and it needs the revenue generated from the canal’s strategic position inside them.

In times of conflict, however, they don’t always see eye to eye. The U.S. gained a foothold in Panama only because it was fighting for independence from Colombia. Gran Colombia had already broken down into what we now call Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia, so Panama thought the time was right for its own secession. Colombia had the far superior military, but to send its soldiers to Panama by land was to send them through the Darien Gap, a wildly impassable area where they shared a border. Colombia was thus forced to transport its soldiers by sea to retake Panama. Seeing the opportunity this presented, the U.S. deployed its own military to deny them passage. Panama was able to separate from Colombia, and the U.S. was able to establish itself as its security guarantor, giving it a leg to assume control of the Panama Canal’s construction if the opportunity arose – which it did when the French company working on it filed for bankruptcy.

The U.S. and Panama enjoyed a mostly harmonious relationship thereafter until the final years of the Cold War. Panama sided with the U.S. in that conflict, working alongside Washington to fight the Sandinistas and secure Western influence in Central America. But ties began to fray under the rule of authoritarian ruler Manuel Noriega, whose administration was marred by political instability and repeated coup attempts (likely with U.S. backing). Washington sent its military to remove him from power, and though it hurt the bilateral relationship (the Panamanian military was dismantled), subsequent administrations repaired the damage, and the treaty signed by Carter remained intact.

The anticipated U.S.-China trade war will test U.S.-Panamanian relations once again. Trump’s comments on social media about the canal all but mention China by name, saying the canal cannot fall into “the wrong hands.” He also criticized what he described as ridiculously high transit fees. This may prove even more difficult to “fix.” The U.S. is by far the largest user and beneficiary of canal traffic. It remains the primary means of shipping goods between the U.S. East Coast and Asian markets, including China. Putting tariffs on goods from China will increase the cost of goods for U.S. consumers. One way to try to offset some of those costs would be reducing other input costs, such as transportation fees.

Fees for transiting the canal follow a complex system with many variables. Transit rates are set by the Panama Canal Authority, which operates closely, though independently, with the government. Every ship that passes through the canal faces a series of mandatory and variable charges. Mandatory charges include things like the tugboat and pilot fees needed for navigating the canal’s many locks. By law, highly experienced and trained Panamanian pilots must command and control all vessels passing through the canal (the vessel’s pilot relinquishes all control to the Panamanian pilot upon arrival at the canal). The variable fees relate to things like a vessel's length, weight and scheduling. The fees are equally applied to ships regardless of country of origin or destination. (This reflects the “neutrality” concept enshrined in the treaty.)

There are other, strategic reasons Washington would want to avoid antagonizing Panama. Panama serves as a major transit country for migrants leaving South America for the United States. Washington and Panama City have increased coordination on this front, with the U.S. even paying for select deportations of migrants out of Panama to their countries of origin. Panama has also used its control of the canal to indirectly support U.S. sanctions against Iran and Russia by withdrawing flags from vessels linked to sanctioned companies and entities. Elsewhere, Panama’s efforts to develop more reservoirs and build a dry canal to help mitigate the impact droughts have had on canal traffic will ultimately benefit the U.S. But most important, Panama remains the most attractive partner for the U.S.; similar ideas floated for Mexico, Nicaragua and Colombia all lacks the benefits of the canal in Panama, which has the obvious benefit of already being built.

The conflict the U.S.-China trade war will generate will likely force Washington and Panama City to re-examine their relationship. The U.S. has plenty of leverage, including the world’s largest and most advanced military, but Washington is unlikely to be willing to absorb the political and economic costs and international backlash that would come from moving against Panama too aggressively. There’s room in the relationship for adjustment, but cooperation is still in both countries’ best interests.

[Crafty_Dog]

second

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/we-will-demand-that-the-panama-canal-be-returned-trump-issues-threat-to-local-officials/ar-AA1wijFz?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=bf38eb40b36347c3a01d6c3bb2a2d9f9&ei=51

[Crafty_Dog]

After making a number of fair points, not until the end does the WSJ begin to engage with the true question.

"We doubt Mr. Trump knows much of this, and he’s famous for popping off to grab attention and hit a nationalist theme. Perhaps he’s concerned about China’s spreading influence in Latin America, which is real and isn’t in the U.S. interest. Two of the canal’s five cargo ports are run as a concession by Hutchison Whampoa, a publicly traded firm on the Hong Kong stock exchange, while three others are run by U.S., Singapore and Taiwanese commercial interests."

To be added to this is how the Panamanians have enabled the Chinese to smuggle 75,000 MAMs into America.

===================
Will Trump Invade Panama?
The President-elect threatens to retake the canal, but how?
By The Editorial Board
Dec. 24, 2024 5:01 pm ET

Forgive us if we missed it, but we don’t recall Donald Trump campaigning to invade Panama and retake its famous canal. But there was the President-elect on the weekend, threatening our Central American ally with punishment if it doesn’t meet his demands.

Opinion: Potomac Watch
WSJ Opinion Potomac Watch
GOP Lessons From the Christmas Shutdown Brinkmanship


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“Our Navy and commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, highly unfair, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama—I say, very foolishly, by the United States,” Mr. Trump told a crowd in Phoenix. “This complete ripoff of our country will immediately stop.”

He added: “We will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America in full, quickly and without question. I’m not going to stand for it. So to the officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly.”

***
Where did that come from? Did some shipping magnate whisper in Mr. Trump’s ear? Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino quickly rebutted Mr. Trump and said Panama will defend its interests. Mr. Trump replied on Truth Social, “We’ll see about that.”

So what is Mr. Trump proposing to do—invade? Make the Americas in the image of William McKinley and Teddy Roosevelt again?

If we can introduce a few facts, Mr. Trump’s claim that Panama is gouging Americans is unfounded. Every vessel, regardless of its flag, pays the same rate according to tonnage and type. Container ships, which carry finished goods, pay more than bulk carriers. About 75% of the total price is a toll and 25% is for services like tugboat or locomotive escorts.

When the U.S. ceded the canal to Panama in 1999 under a treaty negotiated in the 1970s by Jimmy Carter, there was concern that the country couldn’t run the vital transit way. But the Panama Canal Authority has done well by guarding its institutional independence from the government and running as a business.

The canal’s budget is reviewed by its board of directors, the president’s cabinet and Panama’s congress, and excess earnings are transferred to government coffers. But the canal authority is financially and managerially independent of the state. A third set of locks, which opened in 2016, was planned and built by the canal authority, not Panama.

Lake Gatun is crucial to the canal operation, but it also supplies 60% of the country’s potable water, which takes priority over shippers. When an El Nino drought that started in June 2023 and lasted a year lowered the draft on the lake, the canal authority had to reduce sharply the number of daily transits. Jorge Quijano, a former Panama Canal administrator, told us that he estimates that the loss of revenue to the canal authority was about $1 billion.

To remain competitive and help customers get their products to market, the authority adopted an online auction for express passes. Those willing to pay more got through the shipping lanes faster. Others either had to wait or use alternate routes around the Cape of Good Hope or through the Suez Canal. If Mr. Trump wants to put pressure on Panama prices, he should demand that the Houthis stop firing missiles at commercial ships in the Red Sea.

When the canal was in U.S. hands, it adjusted tolls to break even. But today the Panama Canal Authority can’t depend on the U.S. government for maintenance or capital expenditures.

Mr. Quijano says that building the one or two more reservoirs needed to mitigate water uncertainty could cost more than $2 billion. The authority has to think about its bottom line so it charges for the market value of the canal, measuring size, weight and demand. It holds a public hearing on toll increases, and in the past it has adjusted fees based on feedback.

We doubt Mr. Trump knows much of this, and he’s famous for popping off to grab attention and hit a nationalist theme. Perhaps he’s concerned about China’s spreading influence in Latin America, which is real and isn’t in the U.S. interest. Two of the canal’s five cargo ports are run as a concession by Hutchison Whampoa, a publicly traded firm on the Hong Kong stock exchange, while three others are run by U.S., Singapore and Taiwanese commercial interests.

It’s hard to know how seriously to take Mr. Trump’s broadsides. But threatening a takeover that would require an invasion may court more trouble than he imagines.

[Crafty_Dog]

(1) TRUMP LATAM ENVOY SAYS PANAMA THREAT TO COUNTER CHINA: Special Envoy for Latin America nominee Mauricio Claver-Carone said President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to seize the Panama Canal was designed to make clear that “decades of U.S. commerce financing China’s growth and strategic footprint in the Americas is over.”

Why It Matters: Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson gave a speech in 2017 declaring that the then-Trump administration was returning to the Monroe Doctrine, an early 19th century policy of excluding European powers from the Western hemisphere. Monroe 2.0 is directed towards China, which is engaged in an influence projection strategy in Latin America in order to contain the United States. As it stands, Panama has given contracts to a Hong Kong-based Chinese company to control ports at both ends of the Panama Canal, and there are fears that China could wield undue influence against transiting American ships there. About three-quarters of the canal’s traffic is coming to or going from the United States, while China is the canal’s second-largest customer. Panama is set to raise fees starting on 01 January 2025. – M.S.

[Crafty_Dog]

https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/feliz-navidad-from-panama?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email#media-dad63610-de9f-4ac1-a4a8-c100f185da19

[Crafty_Dog]

https://nypost.com/2024/12/23/opinion/panama-is-violating-its-canal-treaty-and-risking-us-safety/

[Crafty_Dog]

Have not watched these yet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5vX4TWNRAo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvW-PZjBzS8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgPuAVB8a9A

[Crafty_Dog]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/goodbye-panama-canal-its-neighbor-plans-to-rival-it-with-an-18-billion-dry-canal/ar-AA1xFsxU?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=d65ad80250494bdca0018c666a2b1c45&ei=13

[Body-by-Guinness]

@BehizyTweets
·
1h
BREAKING: The Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission just confirmed all of President Trump's allegations against Panama for violating the Canal Treaty.

He broke down how China now controls it and why it's vital that the United States intervenes before it's too late.

(BBG here) The statement referred to can be found here: https://www.fmc.gov/ftdo/statement-of-chairman-louis-e-sola-to-the-senate-committee-on-commerce-science-and-transportation-fees-and-foreign-influence-examining-the-panama-canal-and-its-impact-on-u-s-trade-and-n/

Question: should we be pining for Noriega given these concerns?

[Crafty_Dog]

(3) PANAMA LAUNCHES AUDIT INTO CHINESE NO-BID CONTRACTS: During a Senate hearing on the Panama Canal yesterday, Federal Maritime Commissioner Daniel Maffei said the Panamanian government launched an audit into Chinese port and infrastructure deals, shortly after President Donald Trump took office.

Professor Eugene Kontorovich said the previous Panamanian administration awarded no-bid 25 year contracts to Hong Kong-based Hutchison Ports, which could be directed by the Chinese government to disrupt U.S. access to the Panama Canal.
Why It Matters: China restricting access to the Panama Canal would disrupt U.S. supply chains and trade, and Chinese controlled ports could be used to conduct cyberattacks using Huawei telecoms infrastructure installed around the canal. During the hearing Kontorovich pointed out that the neutrality treaty would allow the U.S. to take preemptive military action in the face of a credible threat, which would give the Trump administration the option to intervene militarily in Panama. The Panamanian government launching an audit into Chinese port contracts immediately after Trump’s inauguration, is likely the result of Trump’s pressure campaign on the Panamanian government. - R.C.

[Body-by-Guinness]

@Osint613
·
2h
Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino announced that after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Panama will not renew its 2017 Belt and Road Initiative agreement with China and aims to void existing deals before their 2027-2028 end dates.

[Body-by-Guinness]

@Osint613
·
2h
Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino announced that after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Panama will not renew its 2017 Belt and Road Initiative agreement with China and aims to void existing deals before their 2027-2028 end dates.

ETA: more here:

https://legalinsurrection.com/2025/02/panama-backs-out-of-chinas-silk-road-agreement/

[Crafty_Dog]

So much winning!!!

[Crafty_Dog]

https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/close-darien-gap-deport-all?publication_id=459345&post_id=156376278&r=379fkp&triedRedirect=true 

[Crafty_Dog]

https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/2025-02-03/panama-canal-treaty-declassified?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=b7228163-9ae6-49f1-a380-8a61a4120381

[Crafty_Dog]

https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/panama-united-nations-sponsors-rape?utm_source=podcast-email&publication_id=459345&post_id=156465055&utm_campaign=email-play-on-substack&utm_content=watch_now_button&r=z2120&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

[Crafty_Dog]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-s-fury-over-trump-s-panama-victory/ar-AA1yAn9c?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=29678bda8b7c443d811b6bfd991fac51&ei=65

[Crafty_Dog]

O'Grady has been the WSJ editorial page's expert on Latin America for decades now.   She is well informed, and not a stupid person.   As such she scores some telling shots in this piece, but IMHO misses:

*the choke point implications e.g. the implications of China building a bridge over the Panama canal. 
*the layers of duplicity covering Chinese tracks
*the Panamanian complicity in Chinese MAMs moving through on their way to America (75,000+?)
*what would have been the implications of the Chinese project building a road through the Darien Gap-- ended if I have it right, by Rubio getting Panama to break off the B&R deal with China.


===========

Fact vs. Trump Fiction in Panama
The president claims Chinese soldiers are working in the canal. That’s nonsense.
Mary Anastasia O’Grady
Feb. 9, 2025 4:12 pm ET

Secretary of State Marco Rubio went on Fox last week to cite a “Hong Kong shipping vessel” in the Panama Canal as evidence that China is exercising “effective control” of the waterway. He was wrong on two fronts. First, the Panamanian-flagged ship belonged to a South Korean company. Second, the 47-year-old U.S.-Panama treaty governing “the permanent neutrality and operation” of the canal means ships from any country are allowed to use it.

Mr. Rubio knows this. He loudly denounced Cuba’s effort to sneak arms through the canal to North Korea in 2013. But ever since President Trump announced on Dec. 21 that he wants to tear up the treaty and reclaim the canal for Americans, fiction has ruled the U.S. narrative.

It may be that by bullying one of the few U.S. allies in the region, Mr. Trump intends only to negotiate the toll rates that the canal authority charges all its customers and reduce China’s presence in Panama. Let’s hope so.

Panama hasn’t violated the treaty and says it won’t relinquish the canal. Retaking it would require economic or military force and a U.S. occupation. Marching on a weaker, law-abiding democracy would be Putinesque. It would also be a broken promise from a president who ran on a pledge to curtail foreign adventures. If U.S. moral authority in the world matters at all to Republicans, they might want to pump the brakes on this one.

The Trump assault on Panama began on Dec. 21, when the president-elect declared that Americans are “being ripped off at the Panama Canal.” He didn’t mention that the Panama Canal Advisory Board, chaired by a retired U.S. Navy admiral, reviews toll increases.

The canal authority, independent of the government, is a business with a bottom line. It has to budget for regular maintenance and capital expenditures, such as the third set of locks, costing $5.25 billion, that it completed in 2016.

During an August 2017 visit, then-Vice President Mike Pence recognized the canal authority’s good stewardship. Seven months later U.S. Ambassador John Feeley resigned and the post remained open until 2022, which may explain why U.S. influence in the country waned in those years.

Chinese soldiers aren’t “lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal,” as Mr. Trump claimed on Christmas Day. “The United States” didn’t lose “38,000 lives in building” the canal—another Trump whopper. The number of total deaths, according to historian David McCullough, was 5,609. About 350 were “white Americans,” he wrote in “The Path Between the Seas.” Most of those who perished were migrant workers from the West Indies.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz convened a Commerce Committee hearing last month. Trump-appointed Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Louis Sola asserted that ships going in and out of the two cargo ports run by a Panama subsidiary of Hong Kong’s Hutchison Port Holdings “block the traffic of the canal every single time.”

That’s false, former Panama Canal Authority administrator Jorge Quijano told me. But with no one to discuss canal security protocols, senators channeled Tom Clancy: Hypotheticals included Beijing’s ordering Hutchison to stop work in order to freeze the global economy and China’s jamming shipping lanes and blocking U.S. military transit during an attack on Taiwan.

Panama has long struggled with corruption. Its agreement last week to wind down China’s Belt and Road Initiative in the country is a win for Mr. Rubio.

But there are no Belt and Road projects in the independent Panama Canal, and the canal authority has never been accused of corruption. More than 99% of canal authority employees are Panamanian. The waterway is guarded by Panamanian air and maritime services. Hutchison Ports has 53 concessions worldwide, including the largest container port in the U.K. and Ensenada, Mexico, just south of the U.S. border.

Mr. Feeley and Mari Carmen Aponte, another former U.S. ambassador to Panama, laid out key facts in a Jan. 27 letter to Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington. They noted U.S. Southern Command, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Homeland Security Department and “multiple” U.S. intelligence agencies “have an ongoing presence in Panama and routinely engage” there with their counterparts and the international shipping interests. Port concessionaires, they noted, can’t “block or sabotage the Canal operations.”

China does present cyber threats to the canal, the ambassadors said. But such attacks “can be launched from anywhere in the world.” That’s why, “in the spirit of upholding the Neutrality Treaty,” the canal authority recently signed a cybersecurity agreement with U.S. Southern Command.

The antidote to China’s “creeping commercial expansion” in Panama, the ambassadors wrote, is greater “U.S. commercial interest and activity.” Instead, the Trump administration is making stuff up, swinging a big stick, and humiliating a friend. This is strengthening the anti-American left in the country. That’s not diplomacy. It’s insanity.

Write to O’Grady@wsj.com.

[Crafty_Dog]

Report from Panama: “Migrant” Invaders Sheltered in Downtown Hotel
Nicer and more expensive than hotels Team Burning Edge uses here
Michael Yon
Feb 19

 
Mind-dump, sans edit

Panama City, Panama

Last week we were back in Darien Gap. Invasion flows through the Gap are down roughly 95%. Invasion camps such as Bajo Chiquito, Lajas Blanca, and San Vicente, remain open, operational, manned, and lighted. Invaders still flow through such as Iranians we encountered face-to-face last week at Lajas Blanca after they flowed through Bajo Chiquito from Colombia.

I personally have spent months in and around these camps since shortly after Biden was installed.

I was present on 18 April 2022 when an entourage including Department of Homeland Security chief Alex Mayorkas landed in four Blackhawk helicopters near San Vicente camp, and then motored to the camp. I was there. Having waited four more days in a 1-star hotel where I spent months.

Mayorkas landed to bring more support to increase invasion flows. Invasion and destruction of America was the specific intent of mission. This is not hidden. They say and write these things. Explicitly. And they take action. Such as invading United States and dozens more countries. Ireland is essentially already dead. Having crossed the demographic event horizon.

Mayorkas previously had been a board member at HIAS — a major invasion coordinator with global offices. One of those offices is 1 minute walk from the front gate of San Vicente camp in Darien. We were just there, again, last week. I have had many breakfasts with the HIAS crew. They seem to alternate. Maybe management does not want workers to know too much. I do no not know.

More than 1 million invaders crossed through Darien Gap from 2022 through 2024. More than 25,000 Chinese crossed in 2023 alone. And this is only the Darien Gap route. There are many more.

Defunding USAID has had a tremendously positive impact on slowing the flows.

But as I and others have said for years — we must defund, dismantle, and prosecute the United Nations. If United Nations is left intact, all is for naught. The invasions will continue after a temporary slowdown. We can win. But we must war toward complete victory. Not a negotiated settlement, “discussions,” or anything short of total victory.

The communist playbook includes the famous strategy “talk talk fight fight”. The talk-clock has run out. Stop all talks. Time for Action.

Question for United States: Why are US tax-slaves paying for invaders to stay in down town Panama City — far away from the key airports — at a nicer hotel than our Burning Edge Teams stays in at our own expense?

[Crafty_Dog]

   
Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more
Beware of China Aid/USAID/JICA
We see them in dozens of countries
Michael Yon
Feb 20

 

READ IN APP
 
Mind-dump, sans-edit

From Panama City, Panama — rushing to publish this due to street dramas unfolding and we want to get down there. I avoid most street dramas in Panama but this one actually is important.
—
Note: a solid source known to me for years mentioned again today China is in Cuba coordinating “migrant” invasion through Panama.
—
China Aid is thick here in Panama. We’ve seen China Aid all over such as in Armenia, El Salvador, and on and on.

I had heard many ‘rumors’ about USAID over the years but did not yet realize USAID grew into an actual enemy formation.

China Aid is on its face an enemy formation. China Aid is working in Panama — as has USAID for generations.

The major protest in Panama today that likely will unfold in about two hours is headed by the communist labor union called SUNTRACS.

Suntracs is employed building the Chinese bridge over Panama Canal. We have been there to see many times. Also, we recently talked with Suntracs workers in Darien. Suntracs are employed building the two bridges near Yaviza.

Suntracs are just a small part of Panama. Suntracs tends to hate Americans but most Panamanians tend to hate Suntracs.

Suntracs directly works with China here in Panama.

Numerous groups would want to destabilize Panama. US could use destabilization as casus belli to invade.

So, if you see Suntracs murder Americans in the streets — expect invasion from USA. If USA invades, expect Suntracs dying in airstrikes, and at hands of US special operations forces. And seizure of the Canal. Suntracs is providing the labor for the China bridge. Suntracs hates Americans. Some dots are clear.

I am not predicting this will occur. Clarifying conditions are set for conflict and many parties have a vote.

NOTE — as of today, my work here in Panama is becoming far more dangerous. More danger means more expense. Please help support. Very important:

https://michaelyon.com/#donate

[Crafty_Dog]

HT Doug

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/world/americas/us-migrants-panama-jungle-camp.html

"Migrants, Deported to Panama Under Trump Plan, Detained in Remote Jungle Camp"

Is this media or deportation news?

Criminals end up in a prison camp? Instead of running free in a sanctuary City with all expenses paid? Outrageous.

Instapundit: "Passing through the Darien Gap on your way to the U.S. is a human right but passing through the Darien Gap on your way back home is some kind of torture."

[Crafty_Dog]

https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/protests-in-panama-city-panama?utm_source=podcast-email&publication_id=459345&post_id=157658475&utm_campaign=email-play-on-substack&utm_content=watch_now_button&r=z2120&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

[Crafty_Dog]

https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/panama-in-violation-of-treaty?publication_id=459345&post_id=157859960&isFreemail=true&r=379fkp&triedRedirect=true

[Crafty_Dog]

https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/polar-bears-to-penguins-highway?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=459345&post_id=158237493&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=z2120&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

[Crafty_Dog]

NOW Unfolding -- Chinese Being Deported from Panama
Masako Ganaha is on Flight with Chinese now as they are deported from Panama to or through Turkey
Michael Yon
Mar 3

 

READ IN APP
 
03 March 2025

Masako Ganaha just sent from the air over Atlantic:

I’m on air from Panama to Istanbul with Turkish airline.

There are many “Chinese migrants” flying on this flight deported from Panama/ USA.

This is what I found out.

At Panama Tocumen airport gate 35, I saw many migration officers. About 5 officers with “Migracion” on their Jackets. They were escorting Chinese people. Roughly 20 Chinese. They were young. Many women. No children.

I asked one of the officers, “I’m a journalist researching about migration issue. Are those Chinese from US? Are they migrants?”

“They are not migrants. They came to Panama but not allowed to enter the country so they are escorted to the flight from Panama.”

However one of the Chinese man told me a different story.

“I was going to the US but got caught”, laughing.

They were illegal aliens seeking to enter US.

As passengers were going through the gate, some of us were asked to stay at the gate including myself, one Chinese lady, Panamanian lady and a white man.

The Chinese woman looked almost in panic. She was talking on app with someone. Couldn’t speak Spanish nor English. We didn’t know the situation but asked to stay at the gate. Eventually all other Chinese were aboard and she was left alone with three of us.

There was a person on a stretcher who is seated near our seats. Because this person couldn’t move during the flight, people seated around this person was assigned to different seats. That’s why we were asked to wait. But the Chinese woman got worried and started to shed tears a little.

I decided to talk with the Chinese man again on the flight.

He was friendly.

He told me he took boat from Nassau [Bahamas] to Florida and got arrested by the coast guard. Spent two months in jail.

His wife and children are in US.

“The reason Chinese people are going to the US is because cost of living in China is very high and we cannot save money”

He is tired of travel and will go back to China. But there are others still trying to go to US on this flight.

I asked his trip in detail but he did not say. Looks like he doesn’t remember the route, or pretending not remembering.

The photos are his Travel Document. Not passport. He said I can take photo and publish.

He said in Bahama and Turkey, police didn’t like Chinese. They were not nice.

Slapped him and took all the money, passport, phone everything. He said police in both Bahamas and in Turkey slapped him.

In Bahamas police sold one chicken sandwich for $100 each.

According to him, in Turkey there were 34 Chinese in one building across 5 floors.

Someone called the police and police raided the apartment.

At that time he had all the document to stay in Turkey but didn’t have passport because he was applying for a visa to Nicaragua.

Then police arrested him.

It sounds like they have been arrested, robbed many times over and over again but kept going.

As I was asking him many questions he eventually said he is tired because he drunk beer and went back to his seat.

[Crafty_Dog]

https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/panama-us-embassy-hates-trump-and?publication_id=459345&post_id=158429060&r=379fkp&triedRedirect=true

[ccp]

"  U.S. Embassy in Panama openly aided and continues to aid the invasion  "

All should be immediately fired and investigation on to where they are stashing the bribes

[DougMacG]

"  U.S. Embassy in Panama openly aided and continues to aid the invasion  "

All should be immediately fired and investigation on to where they are stashing the bribes

Agree.

I noticed Sec Rubio didn't look thrilled to be in charge of taking back the canal.

I assume a 'deal' will be made.

[Crafty_Dog]

https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/panama-president-mulino-just-called?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=459345&post_id=158473972&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo1ODg4MTI0MCwicG9zdF9pZCI6MTU4NDczOTcyLCJpYXQiOjE3NDEyMTI0ODIsImV4cCI6MTc0MzgwNDQ4MiwiaXNzIjoicHViLTQ1OTM0NSIsInN1YiI6InBvc3QtcmVhY3Rpb24ifQ.uLC5FF5E4PFzKphNT5jM_R4EIDz_5KvuKD27oJ-4sPI&r=z2120&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

[ccp]

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/saraharnold/2025/03/08/blackrock-strikes-multi-billion-dollar-deal-to-place-panama-canal-ports-under-american-control-n2653474

I wonder what is in it for Die hard crat Larry Fink?

more to this story we will likely never know about.

[Crafty_Dog]

This has been in the news for a number of days now.  I can't believe I failed to note it here.   Anyway, thank you CCP.   IMO this is a huge deal and highly indicative that Team Trump is bringing serious force to bear here.   

Next step, the bridge the Chinese are building over the Canal?

Next step, as described by Michael Yon, the infrastructure for getting Chinese illegally into America?

[Crafty_Dog]

https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/just-landed-from-helicopter-over?publication_id=459345&post_id=159008637&isFreemail=true&r=379fkp&triedRedirect=true

[Crafty_Dog]

https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/china-slowing-taking-panama?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=459345&post_id=159042000&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=z2120&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

[Crafty_Dog]

second

 

https://www.oann.com/newsroom/trump-signals-potential-military-action-to-reclaim-panama-canal-requests-coordinated-plan/

Trump Signals Potential Military Action To Reclaim Panama Canal, Requests Coordinated Plan

(L) U.S. President Donald Trump appears during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) / (R) View of the Port of Balboa, managed by CK Hutchison Holdings, located at the entrance to the Panama Canal in Panama City, on March 12, 2025. (Photo by MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images)
OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
11:55 PM – Friday, March 14, 2025

According to reports, President Donald Trump has instructed the U.S. military to devise a range of strategies for retaking the Panama Canal, in an effort to dissuade communist China from continuing conducting operations in the region.

Advertisement
The United States Southern Command is in the works of leading the future endeavor, according to NBC News, reportedly involving the U.S. military retaking the Panama Canal, if need be, — though preferably collaborating with Panamanian security forces.

According to officials, the efforts of the U.S. military is contingent on Panama’s compliance with American requests. The U.S. military will reportedly not become involved if Panamanian officials comply.

Commander of United States Southern Command, Admiral Alvin Holsey “presented draft strategies to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week,” the report stated.

According to officials, the United States regaining control is not impossible, but it would most likely only occur if Trump’s objective of regaining the canal, which the U.S. has funded and constructed, was met by an increased American military presence.

Ultimately, the Trump administration is looking to strengthen American military forces in Panama in order to reduce the ongoing Chinese influence in the region. He has often stated that it is not right for China to be taking advantage of the canal, being American made, as China is the United States’ greatest economic threat.

However, Panama and China deny that there is any foreign meddling in regard to the 50-mile canal, whose neutrality is “established” in Panama’s Constitution. Meanwhile, the U.S. has also been accused by Chinese authorities of employing “coercion” to compel Panamanian officials to obstruct Chinese initiatives.

“It was given away by the Carter administration for $1, but that agreement has been violated very severely,” Trump explained, during his address to Congress last week. “We didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.”

A segment of the report reads: “Privately, Trump has told his advisers that he sees a U.S. military presence in Panama and on the canal itself as critical to that effort, the U.S. officials said. Trump has also made it clear that he wants U.S. service members to be visible in the canal zone as a show of force.

Trump administration officials have also argued that China has too large of a presence near the canal. In the event of a conflict, Beijing could shut down the canal to American shipping — including military ships.

China is “playing the long game” with its economic development projects around the world, which it exploits to further its goals, according to a statement made last year before the House Armed Services Committee by Gen. Laura Richardson, who was the head of the United States Southern Command at the time.

“The PRC [People’s Republic of China] messages its investments as peaceful, but in fact, many serve as points of future multi-domain access for the PLA [People’s Liberation Army] and strategic naval chokepoints,” she said. “In Panama, PRC-controlled State-Owned Enterprises, SOEs, continue to bid on projects related to the Panama Canal — a global strategic chokepoint.”

[Crafty_Dog]

Panama Decrees Open Door to "Immigrants"
Believe it or not...here is the Decree
Michael Yon
Mar 14

 

READ IN APP
 
Panama has officially opened the doors. To be replaced.

The following Decree is a red carpet to demographic replacement.

I include both the original and translated versions of the official Decree from 11 March 2025.

Please say if you see translation errors. I paid $160 yesterday for a human to translate not AI. But then the human may have used AI. I do not know:
———-
REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SECURITY

EXECUTIVE DECREE NO. 6

OF 11 MARCH 2025

Which creates the Humanitarian Security Protection Permit

THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC

in the exercise of its constitutional and legal powers,

CONSIDERING:

Article 6(2) of Decree-Law 3 of February 22, 2008, establishes that it is the function of the National Migration Service to organize, direct, register, supervise, and provide immigration services to foreigners and to ensure the effective control of their stay in the country, within the limits indicated in that Decree-Law;

That with the creation of the Ministry of Public Security, through Law 15 of April 14, 2010, it was established that its mission is to determine the country's security policies, plan, coordinate, control, and support the efforts of the security and intelligence agencies that comprise it, with the National Migration Service being part of its operational level;

Article 9(3) of Decree-Law 3 of February 22, 2008, provides that the functions of the Ministry of the Interior and Justice, now the Ministry of Public Security, in matters of migration policy, are to recommend and develop the special measures to be taken by the Panamanian State to control, supervise, and prevent irregular migration;

That Articles 14 and 15 of Decree Law 3 of 2008 determine that the Executive Branch shall regulate the forms and conditions under which permits and visas shall be issued, in accordance with the principles of national security, health, public order, and protection of rights and freedoms; as well as the conditions and requirements that must be met to apply to each of the migratory categories and may create other migratory subcategories;

That the phenomenon of human mobility has posed significant challenges for countries of origin, transit, destination, and return, especially with regard to the protection and guarantee of the fundamental rights of children and adolescents, in strict compliance with national and international human rights standards;

That in recent years this situation has increased considerably and has been motivated by extreme poverty, lack of opportunities, economic inequalities, armed conflicts, political persecution and natural disasters, exposing foreign children and adolescents to multiple risks and threats that impact their well-being, growth and development;

That it is the responsibility of the Republic of Panama, through the National Migration Service, to maintain an orderly and transparent migration, with strict adherence to human rights and the migration law in force;

That it is the duty of the State to establish policies that respond to the needs of the country's economic development and that, in addition, it is its fundamental task to achieve economic rehabilitation and reduce the unemployment rate;

That through Executive Decree No. 393 of September 14, 2015, the State adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whose objective No. 8 is Decent Work and Economic Growth, which establishes that in order to achieve sustainable economic development, it is necessary to increase labor productivity and reduce the unemployment rate;

That undocumented or irregular migrants have been identified as a group in a situation of vulnerability, since they are the most exposed to potential or actual violations of their rights and suffer a high level of lack of protection of their rights as a result of their situation;

That the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development needs to attend to nationals and migrants in vulnerable situations, especially irregular migrants who, by their nature, are not subject to insertion into the labor market, based on a regular migratory status;

That by virtue of the foregoing and after the corresponding evaluation, the Government of the Republic of Panama deems it necessary to establish more effective migration controls for irregular migrants who are in the national territory,

DECREES:

Article 1. The Humanitarian Security Protection Permit is hereby created, which may be applied for by any foreigner who, at the entry into force of this Executive Decree, is irregular within the national territory and has remained in the country for a period of not less than one year. In the event that the applicant has left the country during that year, he or she may not have stayed more than sixty consecutive days outside the national territory.

The Humanitarian Security Protection Permit will be a document that will include the Work Permit issued in favor of the foreigner who avails himself of this Executive Decree, so that he or she may obtain a work permit in the national territory together with his or her residence.

Article 2. Foreigners interested in opting for the Humanitarian Security Protection Permit must meet the following requirements:

1. Power of Attorney and Request through legal representative.

2. Two passport-size photos, white background or color.

3. Complete the Single Pre-Registration of Foreigners (RUEX) or update it, depending on each case.

4. Not have current immigration procedures before the National Migration Service.

5. Complete copy of duly notarized passport.

6. Applicant's proof of address:

a. Notarized lease agreement (Copy of the tenant's ID).

b. Utility bill.

7. Criminal record certificate from their home country duly authenticated or apostilled, as the case may be.

8. Personal background affidavit.

9. Health certificate issued by a qualified professional.

10. Copy of the migrant labor registry requested from the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development.

11. In the event that the applicant is a minor, the notarized power of attorney must be granted by both parents or legal guardian, accompanied by the document that proves the relationship and the letter of responsibility duly authenticated or apostilled, as the case may be.

12. Certified or Cashier's Check from the National Bank, in favor of the National Immigration Service for an amount of $800.00 for repatriation.

13. Certified or Cashier's Check from the National Bank, in favor of the National Immigration Service for an amount of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) for immigration service.

14. Payment of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the card and multiple visa for the permit requested.

15. Proof of payment issued by the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00), for the Work Permit.

Article 3. The following table of costs is adopted for the processing of the application for the Humanitarian Security Protection Permit:

Transaction

Cost for immigration service

Card and Multiple Visa

Repatriation, non-refundable

National Treasure

TOTAL

Adult

$250.00

$100.00

$800.00

-

$1,150.00

Minor

-

$100.00

-

-

$100.00

Work permit

-

-

-

$100.00

$100.00

The breakdown referring to "cost for immigration service", includes the appointment request; the reception of the documentation submitted; the analysis of it; and, finally, the issuance of the resolution whether or not the Humanitarian Security Protection Permit is approved.

Article 4. The National Migration Service will check the authenticity of each document provided with the application. The mere presentation of the documents does not imply their validity, so if inconsistencies are found, it will generate criminal and administrative responsibilities for the applicant or whoever has participated in the event.

Article 5. In addition to the requirements set forth in this Executive Decree, the foreigner who opts for the Humanitarian Security Protection Permit may be subjected to an interview or evaluation by the National Migration Service and the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development, as appropriate, to determine whether or not the granting of the permit is appropriate, the cancellation or denial of the respective permit.

Article 6. The Human Security Protection Permit will be granted individually by each applicant and will contemplate the authorization by the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development for the foreigner, whose residence is approved, to immediately obtain a work permit.

Both permits will be valid for a period of two years, so that the beneficiaries over 18 years of age can reside and work in the territory of the Republic of Panama during that period, complying with the tax, labor, social security, health and legal obligations corresponding to their activity.

Article 7. Any foreigner who has obtained a Humanitarian Security Protection Permit, after the two years, may opt for a six-year extension and, once the extension period has elapsed, may opt for permanent residence, complying with the criteria established by this Executive Decree.

Article 8. Foreigners who were not admitted as refugees before the National Office for the Attention of Refugees (ONPAR), meeting the requirements to apply for the first time, in accordance with Article 2 of this Executive Decree, may opt for this permit.

Likewise, any foreigner who applied for Executive Decree No. 112 of July 13, 2023, may request the extension contemplated in this Executive Decree, complying with the requirements established in Article 9, with the exception of numeral 8, for which they must present the criminal record of their country of origin.

Article 9. Any foreigner who opts for the six-year extension must meet the following requirements:

1. Power of Attorney and Request through Legal Representative.

2. Two passport-size photos, white background or color.

3. Complete copy of duly notarized passport.

4. Applicant's proof of address:

a. Notarized lease agreement (Copy of the tenant's ID).

b. Utility bill.

5. Updated copy of the migrant labor registry requested from the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development.

6. Personal History Statement.

7. Health Certificate issued by a qualified professional.

8. Criminal and police record history, issued by the Directorate of Judicial Investigation, of the National Police of Panama, as long as you have not left the country for more than thirty days.

9. Social security form that proves that the person is contributing to the Social Security Fund or Income Tax Return with its respective proof of payment to the General Directorate of Revenue.

10. In the event that the applicant is a minor, the notarized power of attorney must be granted by both parents or legal guardian, accompanied by the document that proves the relationship and the letter of responsibility duly authenticated or apostilled, as the case may be.

11. Certified or Cashier's Check from the National Bank, in favor of the National Immigration Service for an amount of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) for immigration service.

12. Payment of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the card and multiple visa for the permit requested.

13. Proof of payment issued by the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00), for the Work Permit.

Transaction

Cost for immigration service

Card and Multiple Visa

National Treasure

TOTAL

Adult

$250.00

$100.00

-

$350.00

Minor

-

$100.00

-

$100.00

Work permit

-

-

$100.00

$100.00

Article 10. In the event that the foreigner does not have a collated copy of the passport, according to the terms of Article 28 of Decree Law 3 of 2008, or has a damaged or pending passport, he or she must present a certification from the corresponding Consulate that certifies his or her passports and certifies that he or she does not have the passport or that it is in process, duly authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In case the passport has been lost, a report must be filed, for theft or robbery with the Directorate of Judicial Investigation, or with the Complaint Reception Center of the Public Prosecutor's Office, together with the certification of the Consulate mentioned above.

Article 11. When the applicant is a person under eighteen years of age, in order to process the Humanitarian Security Protection Permit, he or she must have the notarized authorization of both parents or the parent who has custody, proving the relationship of kinship. Upon reaching the age of majority, the applicant may opt for a work permit which must be processed before the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development, meeting the following requirements:

1. Power of Attorney and Request by Legal Representative.

2. Registration of affiliation of migrant labor.

3. Certification of Immigration Status stating that the applicant has a Humanitarian Security Protection Permit.

4. Copy of general passport and RUEX stamp.

5. Notarized copy of the residence card of the Humanitarian Security protection permit.

Article 12. The foreigner, at the time of applying for permanent residence, must provide the following requirements:

1. Power of Attorney and Request by Legal Representative.

2. Two (2) passport-size photos, white or color background.

3. Complete copy of duly notarized passport.

4. Applicant's proof of address:

a. Notarized lease agreement (Copy of the tenant's ID).

b. Utility bill.

5. Updated copy of the migrant labor registry requested from the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development.

6. Personal background affidavit.

7. Health certificate issued by a qualified professional.

8. Criminal and police record history, issued by the Directorate of Judicial Investigation, of the National Police of Panama, as long as you have not left the country for more than 30 days.

9. Social security form that proves that the person is contributing to the Social Security Fund or Income Tax Return with its respective proof of payment to the General Directorate of Revenue.

10. In the event that the applicant is a minor, the notarized power of attorney must be granted by both parents or legal guardian, the letter of responsibility, and the certification of an educational center that accredits their status as a student.

11. Certified or Cashier's Check from the National Bank, in favor of the National Immigration Service for an amount of $250.00 for immigration service.

12. Payment in the amount of $100.00 for the card and multiple visa for the permit requested.

13. Proof of payment issued by the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00), for the Work Permit.

In addition, the applicant must provide documentation that demonstrates the condition under which they will obtain their permanent residence, which may be as follows:

1. For reasons of roots. They must meet the requirements established in Title IV Permanent Resident Category; Chapter III For demographic reasons Family reunification, Section 1. Married to Panamanian and Section 2. Dependents of Permanent Residents, of Executive Decree No. 320 of February 3, 2008 or Executive Decree No. 582 of August 9, 2012. In the case of foreigners who opt for permanent residence for reasons of roots, under the condition of married to a Panamanian, they will be exempt from the payment of the repatriation deposit.

2. For work reasons. At the time of applying for permanent residence, the foreigner must have a social security card that proves that he or she contributes to the Social Security Fund or Income Tax Return with its respective proof of payment to the General Directorate of Revenue.

3. For tax reasons. The foreign person who is registered with the General Directorate of Revenue as a tax taxpayer must provide the following:

a. Notice of operation, when applicable.

b. The last two income tax returns, duly filed.

c. Good standing with the Revenue taxes.

Transaction

Cost for immigration service

Card and Multiple Visa

National Treasure

TOTAL

Adult

$250.00

$100.00

-

$350.00

Minor

-

$100.00

-

$100.00

Work Permit

-

-

$250.00

$250.00

Article 13. The person who misplaces, loses or deteriorates the card issued in accordance with this Executive Decree, must provide the following documents to request the corresponding duplicate:

1. Original or copy authenticated by the National Migration Service of the resolution granting the provisional or definitive permit with its respective notification stamp.

2. Passport with its registration stamp or filiation. If they have lost the original passport, they must present a provisional passport.

3. Copy of the complaint filed with the complaint reception center for the loss of the document.

4. Contribution for the damaged document if applicable.

The costs for the duplicate will be as follows:

First time

Second time

Third time

$100.00

$200.00

$300.00

Article 14. The amounts collected for immigration services will be used for social assistance and security. Ninety percent (90%) will be assigned to the Ministry of the Presidency and the remaining ten percent (10%) will be allocated to the Special Fund for the Development of Human Resources of the National Migration Service. The amounts collected as a contribution to the Repatriation Deposit referred to in this Executive Decree shall be allocated to the Trust Fund of the National Migration Service.

As for the income from the Work Permit that corresponds to the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development, seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to the Ministry of the Presidency and thirty percent (30%) of the money collected from this process will be allocated to the Special Operational Fund of the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development.

Article 15. The application for the Humanitarian Security Protection Permit will be valid for one year from its promulgation in the official gazette.

Article 16. This Executive Decree shall enter into force upon its promulgation.

LEGAL BASIS: Decree-Law 3 of February 22, 2008; Executive Decree No. 320 of August 8, 2008 and its amendments.

COMMUNICATE AND COMPLY.

Given in Panama City on the eleventh (11th) day of March, two thousand and twenty-five (2025).

JOSÉ RAÚL MULINO QUINTERO

President of the Republic

FRANK ALEXIS ABREGO

Minister of Public Security

[Crafty_Dog]

Fourth

(12) CK HUTCHISON PORT DEAL “BETRAYAL OF ALL CHINESE PEOPLE”: China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office issued an official opinion on the BlackRock-CK Hutchison port deal stating that it was a “betrayal of all Chinese people” and it “threatens to destroy the world, normal shipping, trade order and security.”

The Office further warned that this is likely a template for port mergers and acquisitions around the world that would take China years to recover from.

The Office closed the letter warning other companies to “think twice” about what is at stake when selling to the United States and that they should know “which side it should stand on.”

Why It Matters: This reaction will likely encourage the Trump administration to pursue further buyouts as a means of containing Chinese influence. This reaction also demonstrates to other Belt and Road Initiative participants that the Chinese government views all “private” investment overseas as a grave matter of national security. It will likely dissuade countries from renewing their memoranda of understanding. - J.V.

[Crafty_Dog]

https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/interview-michael-yon-panama-is-the?publication_id=459345&post_id=159161962&isFreemail=true&r=379fkp&triedRedirect=true

https://cdm.press/video/2025/03/15/live-7pm-est-io-episode-271-michael-yon-panama-is-the-key/


https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/panama-coming-into-global-focus?utm_source=podcast-email&publication_id=459345&post_id=159233983&utm_campaign=email-play-on-substack&utm_content=watch_now_button&r=z2120&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

[Crafty_Dog]

PANAMA -- National Power Outage after Explosion
Significant explosion
Michael Yon
Mar 17

 




READ IN APP
 
There was an explosion at La Chorrera power plant.

Article in Spanish

The outrage happened last night while I was working. Power blinked here. Generators kicked on. Panama City went dark but many hotels and businesses went straight to backup power.

My water was out today for about four hours. I keep several days water back-up at all times. So no water dramas but others may have had issues. I can go weeks without a bite off food so my backup supply is literally just water, pink sea salt, and a water filter. I bought more sea salt just a few days ago in case something happened on the full moon. So with my water filter and salt I am good and highly functional for at least one month.


Many Panamanians thought the power outage was due to Americans invading. Which was a solid and reasonable guess. And I was watching for flashes of light and booms.

The moon was bright. You may remember my saying that any military invasion might happen on or about 14 March when moon is bright, or might happen on a new moon when very dark. Am not saying there will be invasion. I do not know. But chances are significant. And if we have any serious commanders left, and if Trump listens to them, any invasion would likely happen come on a very dark or very bright night.

[Crafty_Dog]

Third

https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/very-high-probability-us-will-take?publication_id=459345&post_id=159265769&r=379fkp&triedRedirect=true

[Crafty_Dog]

https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/copper-reaches-highest-prices-in?publication_id=459345&post_id=159536690&isFreemail=true&r=379fkp&triedRedirect=true

[Crafty_Dog]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHeSVITybd4/

[Crafty_Dog]

https://michaelyon.substack.com/p/important-interview-by-al-jazeera?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=459345&post_id=159717171&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=z2120&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

[Crafty_Dog]

I can't see this in this moment, but , , ,

https://www.atlanticundergroundpodcast.com/post/micheal-yon-the-unstoppable-war