The democratic crisis in Venezuela, the flow of migrants through the Darién jungle and the constant threat of drug trafficking and organized crime were the issues addressed at a meeting this Tuesday by the President of the Republic of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, and the head of the South Command, General Laura Richardson.

The meeting took place in the Peace Room of the Palacio de las Garzas.
President Mulino took advantage of the presence of General Richardson and the United States ambassador to Panama, Mari Carmen Aponte, to ask the U.S. government for support for its initiative to invite 17 leaders from the hemisphere to a meeting in Panama this month, in order to make a joint statement about Venezuela, and seek a peaceful solution to the conflict in that nation.

The invitation to the presidents and heads of state was announced on Tuesday by President Mulino on his social network account X.

Because 66% of the migrants who pass through the Darién jungle are of Venezuelan nationality, President Mulino considered that the current situation in Venezuela will aggravate the migration crisis in the hemisphere. The vast majority of men, women and children who cross the border between Panama and Colombia on foot and continue throughout Central America, have the United States as their final destination.
General Richardson and Ambassador Aponte expressed concern about the democratic and security instability in the countries of the hemisphere, and emphasized the importance of Panama as a strategic partner.
To do this, they said that they are willing to make important investments that help ensure the democratic sustainability of Panama and the region.

The United States delegation offered cooperation with Panama on the issue of repatriation flights of migrants arriving in Darién.

The head of the South Command also offered Panamanian security agencies assistance in the maintenance of the helicopters of the National Aeronaval Service (Senan), since the previous government left most of the fleet abandoned and on the ground.

“The United States has no better ally than Panama,” said Mulino, who requested assistance from the United States in terms of security, technology and cooperation.

President Mulino was accompanied by his chancellor, Javier Martínez Acha; the Minister of Security, Frank Ábrego; and the directors of the security stations: Jaime Fernández (National Police), Commissioner Jorge Gobea (Senafront), Commissioner Luis Antonio De Gracia (Senan) and the director of the National Migration Service, Roger Mojica.

Along with Ambassador Aponte and General Richardson were Ann Lynch and Julian Cheater (adsesers to the head of the Southern Command); in addition to the Chief Defense Officer, Daniel Betancourt and Lance Awbrey, head of the Office of Defense Cooperation.