Paranoia or Preparation? Did US “have” or “had” PANAMA military action planned. Hegseth?

Panamanian opposition figures accused the US of carrying out a “camouflaged invasion” after Pete Hegseth said Washington would expand its military presence in Panama to secure the canal from Chinese influence. The reported arrangements for former US bases and preferential canal treatment have fueled claims that the government is compromising sovereignty. The dispute has deepened…

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FUTURE TELLER: Check in on this story in 4 Years to find out what corruption got “greased” for the Bid!

“JB”-  just take solace that you don’t see ODEBRECHT mentioned here.  https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/tren-panama-david-los-paises-que-compiten-por-financiar-el-megaproyecto-HD15167909 Through several international tours, the government has sought out more than four countries that have openly expressed interest in financing this project. The latest to enter the fray is Japan, through its Mizuho Bank. The Panama-David train project continues to attract interest from…

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COLOMBIA “still” a Mess. Young politico shot in June finally passes in hospital

https://newsroompanama.com/2025/08/11/colombian-senator-miguel-uribe-turbay-dies-after-being-attacked-in-bogota/ After two months in the hospital, Colombian senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay died on August 11.  This was reported by his wife, María Claudia Tarazona, on her social networks.  “You will always be the love of my life. Thank you for a lifetime of love, thank you for being a dad to the girls, the…

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Hardcore US Marines training PANAMA troops in the jungles

https://newsroompanama.com/2025/08/11/panamanian-security-institutions-are-joining-u-s-marines-for-jungle-training-and-security-cooperation/   PANAMA CITY, Panama :  U.S. Marines assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, based out of Camp Lejeune, NC, arrived in Panama the first week of August 2025 as part of a combined effort to conduct training, strengthen bilateral security cooperation, and build operational trust with Panamanian security forces. Ten of the newly arrived…

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Mulino signs into law plans to address mounting threat of CyberSecurity

The president signed Law 478, which modifies the Penal Code, and signed Panama’s accession to an Ibero-American Cooperation Agreement. On Tuesday, August 5, President José Raúl Mulino signed into law a law on international legal assistance in criminal matters and cybercrime. https://www.laestrella.com.pa/panama/nacional/presidente-mulino-sanciona-leyes-sobre-ciberdelincuencia-HA15043545 This is Law 478 , which, according to the Executive Branch, strengthens the legal framework against…

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FYI- these are the “Under the Radar” tid bits that explain TRUMP’s 24/7 “hard on” for PANAMA

“JB”- This is why it is called a “Trade War”.   The agreement provides for the transfer of 90% of the stake in the ports of Balboa and Cristóbal, currently operated by CK Hutchison. China’s largest shipping company, state-owned giant Cosco , is negotiating its entry into the BlackRock- led consortium that will buy Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison ‘s two…

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JFC I was a “fan”, but this figure is losing his appeal with me. STFU

https://newsroompanama.com/2025/07/16/we-cannot-and-should-not-lose-a-banana-plantation-job-in-bocas-del-toro-says-martinelli/ According to the president of Realizando Metas, a banana plantation job in Bocas del Toro cannot and should not be lost.  “It’s not just thousands of jobs, but the image projected after what happened with the copper mines, disputed ports, etc., combined with the gross manipulation of justice and the lack of due process,”…

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FOREIGN MINISTER already making the rounds on social circuit as PANAMA passes “velvet rope

Let the “dog and pony” show begin. PANAMA makes it to the VIP Room.  The foreign minister emphasized that removing the country from the list was one of the current Panamanian government’s priorities “from day one.” Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha celebrated Panama’s removal from the European Union (EU) money laundering list on Tuesday, July…

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New “pariah” Martinelli sounds like “sour grapes” for Mulino unshackled with new EU status

People are going “all in” and betting hard on Panama with removal from “Gray List”. And IMHO, sounds like RM is a bit “frosty” in thinking of all the money he could have made if this was the case when he was in charge.  Hey “Rico”, you and your family did quite well. No alligator…

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The US has an active SOCOM military presence here in PANAMA what is the reason?

Members of the Joint Task Force-Bravo of the Southern Command arrived in the country last week. Hundreds of Panamanian police units, along with U.S. military personnel, began joint training exercises this Monday as part of Operation Panamax Alfa 2025 , which authorities say is aimed at protecting the Canal and other strategic facilities in the country. https://www.laestrella.com.pa/panama/nacional/tropas-de-ee-uu-en-panama-cuales-son-los-operativos-que-realizan-en-el-canal-II14492875…

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