Venezuela denounced this Tuesday that a diplomatic bag was violated at the Tocumen airport in Panama and asked the government of that country guarantees that it will not happen againindicates a statement from the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry.
Panama broke diplomatic relations with Venezuela after questioning the re-election of Nicolás Maduro in 2024, but both countries restored consular services and air connections a year later.
The interim government of Delcy Rodríguez takes steps towards reactivating its relations with several countries after the fall of Maduro in a United States military incursion on January 3.
“The immunity of diplomatic communications is an essential principle for coexistence between nations,” warned Foreign Minister Yván Gil on his Telegram account.
“Its violation sets a dangerous precedent that affects the legal security of our missions and threatens the right to identity of the Venezuelan community residing in Panamanian territory,” he added.
The Panamanian government has not commented on the opening of the suitcase, while Venezuela demands “full guarantees of non-repetition” and compliance with the “rules that govern diplomatic and consular activity.”
Nearly 60,000 Venezuelans reside in Panama, according to estimates by NGOs that study Venezuelan migration.
During the 13 years of Maduro’s government, there were four disputes with Panama that led to temporary suspensions of bilateral relations.
The president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, has shown his support for the Venezuelan opposition led by the Nobel Peace Prize winner, María Corina Machado.
Since January 2025, Panama has safeguarded electoral records that the Venezuelan opposition claims demonstrate the triumph of Edmundo González, a candidate sponsored by Machado in the 2024 presidential elections.
