On December 10, U.S. Navy Admiral Craig Faller, commander of U.S. Southern Command, a key U.S. government figure in making visible the crisis in the South American nation, was in Panama for the fourth time.
During his visit to Panama, Adm. Faller, reiterated that the United States is maintaining its policy aimed at “a peaceful transition to a legitimate government” in Venezuela.
Adm. Faller was attending a meeting that is part of the U.S.-Panama High Level Security Dialogue.
As part of their bilateral commitment, both nations reaffirmed that they will continue to protect shared interests in the fields of cooperation, democracy, transparency, and human rights, local media that attended Adm. Faller’s press conference reported.
“What happened in Venezuela is terrible. They have lived under a generation of autocrats, and the unity of the international community has been very important when expressing their concerns, such as the illegitimate elections,” the U.S. high commander said.
“The unity of the international community has been very important,” Adm. Faller said. In addition, he emphasized that the U.S. policy is still “that there be a peaceful transition to a legitimate government, exerting economic and diplomatic pressure.”
He also expressed concerns about the increase in narcotrafficking. “I see an increase in drug trafficking from Colombia to Venezuela and from nations across the Caribbean to Central America, and it is a concern,” he said.
In addition, he reiterated his concern about the situation that the South American country is facing on issues such as the migrant crisis, alluding to the 5 million Venezuelans who have left the country to escape the crisis that Venezuela is going through in all aspects.
During his stop in Panama, Adm. Faller pointed out the importance that the United States places on maintaining border security, and highlighted Panama’s role as a regional leader, working with countries such as Colombia and Costa Rica.
On December 9, together with 20 member countries of the Organization of American States, Panama signed a resolution rejecting the parliamentary elections that took place on December 6 in Venezuela.