Panama steps up reprisals on Venezuela

PANAMA has ratcheted up its tit-for-tat response to Venezuela’s suspension of commercial activities with new retaliatory measures including the suspension, for a period of 90 (renewable) days, of all of air transportation, activities passengers, and cargo of Venezuelan airlines.

The measures. approved by the Cabinet Council on Tuesday, April 10. will be implemented  on April 25

Panama included Venezuela on March 30 in a list of countries that apply discriminatory or restrictive measures to the country’s international economic and commercial interests.

In reply , the Venezuelan government announced on April 5 the suspension of economic, commercial and financial relations for a period of 90 days that can be extended, with 22 Panamanians and 46 national companies, including the president of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, and the vice president. Isabel de Saint Malo.

That led to the withdrawal of Panama ’s ambassador to Venezuela, Miguel Mejía and the request for the Venezuelan Government to withdraw its ambassador in Panama, Jorge Durán Centeno.