Panama’s President Rejects Claims of Requesting US Troops Amid Migration Crisis
José Raúl Mulino counters former Trump advisor’s assertions regarding military support for migration challenges in Darién.
Panama's President José Raúl Mulino publicly denied on Saturday that he had requested military assistance from the United States to address the migration crisis in the Darién region.
This denial comes in response to remarks made by John Bolton, a former advisor to President Donald Trump, who claimed in an interview with a Spanish newspaper that Mulino sought U.S. troops to assist in managing the influx of migrants.
Bolton's comments, made on Thursday, suggested that Mulino's request was aimed at deploying U.S. military forces to the Darién Gap, a treacherous area along the Colombia-Panama border that has seen a significant flow of migrants, primarily from Venezuela, seeking to reach the U.S.
In his statement, Mulino asserted that Panama's approach to managing migration in the Darién was carried out by its own security forces, funded largely by national resources and supported by international organizations.
He criticized Bolton, labeling his claims as "false and reckless," and emphasized that the Panamanian security forces have shown resilience and dedication in addressing migration challenges without external military involvement.
Mulino acknowledged having signed an agreement with President Joe Biden in 2024 concerning migration, but clarified that this agreement did not include provisions for military assistance.
He stated that the border between Panama and Colombia had effectively been managed through the efforts of Panamanian forces, citing evidence of reduced migration issues in the region.
Over the past three years, over a million migrants have traversed the Darién jungle, facing significant risks from wildlife, hazardous terrain, and criminal activity.
However, since the Trump administration’s renewed focus on immigration enforcement—with a stated aim of preventing undocumented entries—the number of crossings through the Darién has seen a sharp decline.
In January, upon returning to office, Trump initiated a mass deportation strategy emphasizing a state of emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, branding the situation as an "invasion." This hardline approach has contributed to the decreased migrant movement, leading Panama to announce the closure of several migrant shelters in the Darién in March, which were initially established to accommodate the influx under international guidance.
This denial comes in response to remarks made by John Bolton, a former advisor to President Donald Trump, who claimed in an interview with a Spanish newspaper that Mulino sought U.S. troops to assist in managing the influx of migrants.
Bolton's comments, made on Thursday, suggested that Mulino's request was aimed at deploying U.S. military forces to the Darién Gap, a treacherous area along the Colombia-Panama border that has seen a significant flow of migrants, primarily from Venezuela, seeking to reach the U.S.
In his statement, Mulino asserted that Panama's approach to managing migration in the Darién was carried out by its own security forces, funded largely by national resources and supported by international organizations.
He criticized Bolton, labeling his claims as "false and reckless," and emphasized that the Panamanian security forces have shown resilience and dedication in addressing migration challenges without external military involvement.
Mulino acknowledged having signed an agreement with President Joe Biden in 2024 concerning migration, but clarified that this agreement did not include provisions for military assistance.
He stated that the border between Panama and Colombia had effectively been managed through the efforts of Panamanian forces, citing evidence of reduced migration issues in the region.
Over the past three years, over a million migrants have traversed the Darién jungle, facing significant risks from wildlife, hazardous terrain, and criminal activity.
However, since the Trump administration’s renewed focus on immigration enforcement—with a stated aim of preventing undocumented entries—the number of crossings through the Darién has seen a sharp decline.
In January, upon returning to office, Trump initiated a mass deportation strategy emphasizing a state of emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, branding the situation as an "invasion." This hardline approach has contributed to the decreased migrant movement, leading Panama to announce the closure of several migrant shelters in the Darién in March, which were initially established to accommodate the influx under international guidance.
