The meeting between the US ambassador, Kevin Marino Cabrera, and a group of Panamanian deputies caused a stir, particularly after deputy Raphael Buchanan and the Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD) publicly criticized the revocation of their invitations.
Buchanan, known for his staunch defense of Panamanian sovereignty, stated that his invitation was withdrawn after he voiced his concerns regarding agreements between Panama and the US on security matters. Another deputy also reportedly had their invitation revoked. The PRD subsequently announced that none of its members would attend, citing the ambassador's actions as a diplomatic slight.
Those who did attend the meeting included deputies José Pérez Barboni (Otro Camino), Joan Guevara (Alianza Party), Luis Duke, Yamireliz Chong and Roberto Zúñiga (Vamos Coalition), Ariel Vallarino (Realizando Metas), Edwin Vergara (Panameñista Party), Eduardo Vásquez and Orlando Carrasquilla (Cambio Democrático).
The US Embassy has not yet provided a reason for the revoked invitations. While the Embassy maintains an active agenda with various Panamanian political figures, this incident highlights the underlying tensions over sovereignty.
The meeting took place within the context of the Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group between Panama and the US, coordinated by José Pérez Barboni. Although the group's members haven't been officially sworn in for the 2024-2029 period, this was at least the third such inter-parliamentary meeting held.
Past interactions, including a large Independence Day reception, have demonstrated the active diplomatic engagement between the US and Panamanian political actors. However, this recent incident illustrates how seemingly informal invitations can carry significant political weight.