Venezuela's President severed diplomatic relations with Panama Wednesday, accusing the Central American nation of being a "lackey" for the United States in a conspiracy plot against his government. "There are maneuvers by the U.S. government plotting with a lackey government that has a right-wing president who is leaving in the next few months, who is not worthy of his people, who has been working actively against Venezuela," President Nicolas Maduro said in televised remarks. He accused Panama of pushing for regional organizations to intervene in Venezuela. As a result, Maduro said he was cutting off diplomatic and political ties and freezing trade relations with Panama's current government "in defense of the homeland's sovereignty."
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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro cuts diplomatic, political ties with Panama
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He accuses Panama of conspiring against Venezuela, being a "lackey" for the United States
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Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli says he wants peace and democracy for Venezuela
"@placeholder only longs for its brother country to find peace and strengthen its democracy," he said.