Panama Says Venezuela-Related Tanker Intercepted by the U.S. Did Not Follow Maritime Rules

PANAMA CITY, December 2025:  Panama’s foreign minister said that a tanker recently intercepted by the U.S. that was under Panama’s flag did not respect the country’s maritime rules and had disconnected its transponder while navigating out of Venezuelan waters carrying a crude cargo. Foreign minister Javier Martinez-Acha added in a TV interview that Panama would take measures accordingly. He did not elaborate further.