Maduro Calls Panama’sPresident ‘Coward’ for Threatening Venezuela, Not Defending Panama Canal
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro unleashed a strong message against his Panamanian counterpart, José Raúl Mulino, describing him as "cowardly" for threatening Venezuela instead of defending the Panama Canal, a critical maritime link between the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
Speaking at the installation ceremony of the Organos de Dirección para la Defensa Integral (ODDI), Maduro lashed out, "They declare in Panama and threaten Venezuela, but they lack the courage to defend the Panama Canal, which they are so keen to use against us. You’re a coward, Mulino, and you’ll face the consequences. Anyone who messes with Venezuela meets their end."
He called on Mulino to defend the canal’s dignity, built under the leadership of Omar Torrijos, and founded by Simón Bolívar. "I hope Mulino has the courage to stand up for the Panama Canal and the dignity left by Torrijos," Maduro added.
Maduro also accused Panama of attempting to orchestrate a coup in Venezuela. "They claim they will ‘kill us all,’ ‘invade’ our country, send mercenaries to plant bombs, and openly call for a military coup, yet expect us to do nothing," Maduro said, referring to the civilian-military-police fusion.
Maduro reassured that Venezuela would fend off any such attempts, thanks to the "civilian-military-police fusion" that would thwart all efforts to seize power.
