Panama's President, José Raúl Mulino, has proposed to his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, the use of a Panamanian airport as a strategic hub to streamline the deportation of migrants back to their home countries. According to Panama's National Agency, Mulino, during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, agreed to make the Metetí Airport in Darién available for the organized transfer of irregular migrants from the United States.
As reported by Reuters, the Panamanian leader expressed willingness to accept migrants from the U.S. originating from countries such as Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. Mulino clarified that this agreement does not entail the presence of U.S. military forces in Panama, emphasizing that only officials related to border control would be involved.
The costs associated with these operations would be borne by the United States, and a repatriation operation involving Colombian migrants is set for this Monday, with Secretary of State Rubio in attendance during his visit to Panama. However, political challenges could complicate the use of this airport, as noted by the Panama America portal.
The majority of migrants come from Venezuela, a nation with which Panama has no diplomatic relations, making deportations to that country unfeasible. Regarding his meeting with Marco Rubio, Mulino described it as "respectful" and "positive," stating that he did not perceive a genuine threat to the validity of the Panama Canal treaty, a key issue during Rubio's visit to the country.
Additionally, Mulino acknowledged the increasing Chinese influence in the region as a concern for Washington and mentioned that Panama will not renew its agreement with China's Belt and Road Initiative. Panama marks the first stop on a tour for the U.S. Secretary of State through Central America and the Caribbean, which includes Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic.
Metetí Airport: A Strategic Asset
The San Vicente Aerodrome, located in the community of San Vicente, Metetí district, in Darién province, Panama, serves as a