Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino has alleged that a U.S. Embassy official is threatening to cancel visas of Panamanian officials as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to pressure Panama into limiting its ties with China. Speaking at his weekly press conference on Thursday, Mulino claimed, without providing evidence, that such actions are inconsistent with the positive relationship he aims to maintain with the United States. He did not identify the official in question. The U.S. Embassy in Panama has yet to respond to requests for comment. This incident follows a September statement by the U.S. State Department, which emphasized its commitment to countering China’s influence in Central America by restricting visas for individuals linked to the Chinese Communist Party or those undermining regional democracy on China’s behalf. Similar cases have emerged in the region, including the visa revocation of former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias and Vanessa Castro, a vice president of Costa Rica’s Congress, both allegedly due to their ties with China. Panama, home to the strategically vital Panama Canal, has become a focal point in U.S.-China tensions. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s February visit underscored Washington’s push for Panama to reduce Chinese influence over the canal. While Panama denies such influence, it has complied with U.S. pressure to transfer port operations from a Hong Kong-based company to a U.S. consortium. Mulino reiterated Panama’s commitment to the canal’s neutrality, stating that visa decisions should not be used as leverage in geopolitical disputes.