PANAMA CITY. Panama: Panama's President José Raúl Mulino said this week that someone at the U.S. Embassy has been threatening to cancel visas for Panamanian officials. He said the pressure is part of U.S. efforts under the Trump administration to push Panama to reduce its ties with China.

Speaking at his weekly press conference, Mulino claimed — without providing evidence — that an embassy official was "threatening to take visas." He said such actions are "not consistent with the good relationship I want to maintain with the United States," but did not name the official involved.

U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera responded in a statement, saying that "a visa is a privilege, not a right." He referred to a U.S. policy announced in September that allows visa restrictions on Central Americans who act on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party to weaken the rule of law in the region. Cabrera said the U.S. applies its visa laws "without regard to the person's position or profession."

The State Department said in September that Washington is working to counter China's growing influence in Central America and would deny visas to those connected to the Chinese Communist Party or those undermining democracy on its behalf.

Earlier this week, the Trump administration revoked visas for six foreigners accused of mocking or downplaying the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last month.

Other similar cases have occurred in the region. In April, former Costa Rican President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias said the U.S. had canceled his visa. In July, Costa Rica's Congress Vice President Vanessa Castro said the U.S. Embassy informed her that her visa was revoked because of alleged links with the Chinese Communist Party.

Panama has become especially sensitive to U.S.-China tensions because of the Panama Canal, a key global trade route. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama in February and urged the country to limit China's influence over the canal.

Panama denied that China controls canal operations but agreed to pressure from the U.S. for a Hong Kong-based company managing ports at both ends of the canal to sell its concession to a U.S. group.

President Mulino said Panama would keep the canal neutral. "The U.S. can give or take away visas as it wants," he said, "but threatening to do so if we don't take certain actions is not right." He added that the dispute between the U.S. and China "doesn't involve Panama."