The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, criticized the Panamanian chancellor Javier Martínez-Acha during a speech marking the anniversary of the failed coup attempt led by Hugo Chávez in 1992. Maduro accused Martínez-Acha of being unable to defend the Panama Canal, especially against potential threats, such as those from Donald Trump, president of the United States.
At an event in front of thousands of supporters in Caracas, Maduro recalled statements from the minister of Panama that hinted at a 'great surprise' related to Venezuela. The Venezuelan president mocked these words and pointed to events that, according to him, shook the world in early January, including his inauguration as constitutional president for the period 2025-2031.
Maduro also mentioned the custody of electoral records by Panama, a country that recognizes opposition figure Edmundo González Urrutia as the winner of the presidential elections in Venezuela. Despite claims from the majority anti-Chavismo about the victory of their leader, Maduro and his party defend the results proclaimed by the National Electoral Council, controlled by officials sympathetic to Chavismo.
The Venezuelan president harshly criticized the Panamanian chancellor for allegedly humiliating himself in front of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his official visit to Panama. Maduro accused Martínez-Acha of committing to agreements that could endanger the sovereignty of the Panama Canal and favor the interests of the United States.
