Sat Apr 12 14:10:43 UTC 2025: ## Panama Opposition Condemns US Troop Deployment as “Camouflaged Invasion”
**Panama City, Panama** – Panama’s opposition parties have vehemently denounced a recently signed security pact with the United States, accusing the US of orchestrating a “camouflaged invasion” following the deployment of American troops. The agreement, finalized after a visit by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, grants US warships preferential passage through the Panama Canal and establishes a US military presence at three former bases: Fort Sherman, Rodman Naval Base, and Howard Air Force Base.
While the Panamanian government insists the deployment is temporary and not the re-establishment of military bases, opposition leader Ricardo Lombana of the Another Way Movement called the agreement an “invasion without firing a shot.” President Trump confirmed the troop deployment, stating, “We’ve moved a lot of troops to Panama.”
The agreement, ostensibly aimed at countering perceived Chinese influence over the canal, has sparked widespread concern. The opposition argues the deal contradicts the spirit of the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which saw the complete withdrawal of US troops in 1999. The US invasion of Panama in 1989, resulting in significant civilian casualties, further fuels opposition anxieties.
Transparency International Panama has also joined the chorus of criticism, demanding greater transparency regarding the agreement’s details. China has voiced its disapproval, reiterating its stance that the Panama Canal should remain a permanently neutral international waterway. The canal’s strategic importance—handling 40% of US container traffic and 5% of global trade—underlines the geopolitical significance of this controversial pact. The opposition’s concerns center around a perceived erosion of Panamanian sovereignty and a disregard for the historical context of US military presence in the country.
First Piper 