Mulino asegura que el memorando con Estados Unidos es un acuerdo administrativo y no cede soberanía | La Prensa Panamá

Key Points of the Panama-US Security Agreement

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino recently defended a memorandum of understanding signed with the United States, emphasizing its administrative nature and asserting it does not affect Panamanian sovereignty. The agreement focuses on improving the training of Panamanian police units to handle advanced threats.

Details of the Agreement

• The agreement is described as an administrative arrangement between defense entities, avoiding the need for approval by Panama's National Assembly.
• It involves the use of Panamanian facilities for training, with a focus on rotation among different locations, primarily at Sherman, Colón.
• Mulino stated that the agreement respects the Panamanian Constitution and the Canal Neutrality Treaty.
• The agreement is not indefinite and has an expiration date.

Expert Opinion

International lawyer Julio Linares clarifies that the memorandum is not a binding international treaty but a non-binding cooperation instrument. While it doesn't violate the Constitution or the Neutrality Treaty, Linares cautions that the potential for de facto permanent U.S. military presence exists due to continuous rotational deployments, even if technically temporary.

Concerns and Implications

The debate centers on whether the memorandum could lead to the establishment of a U.S. military base in Panama. While the agreement doesn't explicitly mention military bases, Linares points out that continued temporary deployments might result in a permanent de facto presence. The 'Nunn reservation' within the Neutrality Treaty, allowing for bilateral agreements post-1999, is also highlighted as a relevant factor.