La Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá respondió a la denuncia del gobierno venezolano sobre la presunta apertura de una valija diplomática en el Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen, asegurando que todas las actuaciones se realizaron conforme a la normativa nacional y a los acuerdos internacionales vigentes, con el objetivo de proteger el territorio nacional y la seguridad de sus habitantes.

La institución indicó que la intervención se produjo en el marco de procedimientos regulares de control aeroportuario, destacando que no existió vulneración deliberada del régimen diplomático, sino la aplicación de protocolos de verificación ante imágenes consideradas irregulares en el escáner.

Según el comunicado oficial de Aduanas, el incidente ocurrió cuando una representante del gobierno venezolano presentó cuatro equipajes en los carriles de inspección, de los cuales dos mostraron imágenes irregulares que requerían verificación adicional.

La funcionaria notificó posteriormente que se trataba de valijas diplomáticas, lo que motivó la coordinación inmediata con el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Panamá, en cumplimiento de los procedimientos establecidos para este tipo de situaciones.

Las autoridades panameñas subrayaron que la revisión se enmarcó en un protocolo técnico y preventivo, orientado a descartar riesgos y garantizar la seguridad aeroportuaria.

Tras la revisión protocolar realizada por la Cancillería panameña, se determinó que las valijas no cumplían con los requisitos establecidos en el artículo 27 de la Convención de Viena de 1961, particularmente en lo relativo a la presencia de signos exteriores visibles, sellos y elementos que acrediten su inviolabilidad diplomática.

Aduanas señaló que este aspecto resultó determinante para proceder con la verificación, ya que la identificación externa es el elemento que activa el régimen de protección especial de estos envíos. En ese sentido, la institución enfatizó que la actuación se fundamentó en criterios técnicos y legales, no en consideraciones políticas.

La Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas reiteró en su pronunciamiento su compromiso con el respeto irrestricto de las normas internacionales, la diplomacia y el adecuado tratamiento de las misiones extranjeras acreditadas en Panamá, al tiempo que aseguró que las acciones se ejecutaron dentro del marco jurídico panameño y de los procedimientos operativos internacionales.

El organismo afirmó que su actuación busca garantizar la continuidad de las funciones esenciales del Estado, la protección del territorio nacional, la seguridad de sus habitantes y la facilitación eficiente del comercio y tránsito internacional.

El pronunciamiento panameño surge luego de que la Cancillería venezolana denunciara la supuesta apertura forzada de la valija diplomática y exigiera garantías de no repetición, argumentando que el hecho constituiría una violación del derecho internacional y un precedente que afectaría la seguridad jurídica de sus misiones en el exterior.

Caracas sostuvo que la inviolabilidad de las comunicaciones diplomáticas es un principio esencial de las relaciones entre Estados y recordó que la Convención de Viena establece que estos envíos no pueden ser abiertos ni retenidos bajo ninguna circunstancia.

El incidente se produce en un contexto de relaciones bilaterales sensibles pero en proceso de normalización, tras la reactivación de servicios consulares y vuelos entre ambos países durante 2025, lo que había sido interpretado como un paso hacia la distensión diplomática.

Sin embargo, la controversia reintroduce tensiones en el plano político y jurídico, al colocar en debate la interpretación del régimen de protección de la valija diplomática frente a los protocolos de seguridad aeroportuaria.

Especialistas en derecho internacional señalan que la controversia gira en torno a un punto clave: la identificación formal de la valija diplomática, requisito indispensable para que opere su inviolabilidad. En ausencia de dicha identificación, los Estados receptores conservan facultades de verificación bajo criterios de seguridad, lo que abre un espacio de interpretación jurídica que suele resolverse mediante canales diplomáticos y no judiciales.

En este escenario, la respuesta de Panamá busca reforzar la narrativa de cumplimiento normativo y respeto al derecho internacional, mientras Venezuela mantiene su postura de vulneración del régimen diplomático. El desarrollo del caso dependerá de eventuales gestiones diplomáticas y de la evaluación que ambas cancillerías realicen sobre la naturaleza del incidente y la documentación asociada a las valijas inspeccionadas.

Prominent figures from across the media, business and political landscapes showed up as guests to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday evening.

Notable attendees included Erika Kirk, the widowed wife of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, David Ellison, the media mogul and CEO of Paramount, and Kevin O’Leary, the Shark Tank media personality and businessman.

Several of the more notable attendees were highlighted by Trump during his address.

Kirk received a mention from the president as he condemned political violence of all kinds in his address.

«We must all come together to reaffirm that America is one nation under God, and we must totally reject political violence of any kind,» Trump said.

Charlie Kirk, who was just 31-years-old at the time of his death, was killed by a gunman on Sept. 10, 2025, while conducting a political debate event at Utah Valley University.

The U.S. men’s hockey team also made an appearance on Tuesday, receiving praise from Trump fresh off their gold medal victory in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

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«Congratulations to team U.S.A.,» Trump said as the players streamed into the chamber during the address.

Trump also highlighted guests brought by others, like First Lady Melania Trump. She invited 10-year-old Everest Nevraumont, a youth advocate for education through artificial intelligence.

«I challenge keeping America’s next generation positioned to succeed and strongly succeed in the future,» Trump said.

Trump also used guests like Enrique Márquez, a former political prisoner of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, to remind audiences of his international achievements under his second administration.

In early 2026, the U.S. stormed Venezuela’s capitol city and captured Maduro, giving Trump newfound leverage in negotiations over the country’s future.

«We’re working closely with the new president of Venezuela to unleash extraordinary economic gains for both of our countries,» Trump said.

The White House reunited Márquez with his family at the State of the Union. 

Trump also awarded the Purple Heart to Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe and deceased Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, two National Guard members who were critically injured and fatally shot by a gunman who ambushed them while on duty last year in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 24: West Virginia National Guard Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe is recognized as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the Capitol on February 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration’s tariff strategy, and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran. (Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images)

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«I’m going to ask a highly respected General James Seward to present Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe and the great family of Sarah Beckstrom, with the award created by our late, great president, George Washington himself,» Trump, who invited her parents as his State of the Union guests, said. «It’s called the Purple Heart. We love you all.»

As Trump spoke, Major General James «Jim» D. Seward, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, presented Specialist Beckstrom’s medal to her parents and pinned the Purple Heart on Staff Sergeant Wolfe in the viewing gallery above.

Guests like O’Leary and Ellison did not receive a shoutout from the president, but mingled with multiple lawmakers.

O’Leary, primarily known for his television presence on ABC’s Shark Tank, owns companies like O’Leary Ventures and O’Leary Fine Wines. 

In recent years, O’Leary has surfaced as a political commentator, giving his thoughts on the effectiveness of political party messaging, voter sentiments and more.

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President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.  (Jessica Koscielniak/AP)

Ellison is the current chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance Corporation keeps a relatively low political profile but, in the past, has made several high-dollar donations to many Democratic candidates despite now calling himself a friend of President Trump.

Trump has boasted publicly about a personal relationship with Ellison.

Most recently, Ellison has made headlines for his attempt to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery — a move that would solidify Ellison and Paramount as titans in the media world.

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He was seen walking into the House of Representatives on Tuesday alongside Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who invited him.

«Honored to have David Ellison as my guest to POTUS’ State of the Union address this evening,» Graham said in a post to X.

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Russian-operated shadow tankers carrying millions of dollars in sanctioned oil are transiting the English Channel, raising warnings of a potential military confrontation in NATO waters, according to reports.

The movements came amid heightened tensions between Russia and NATO, with the Royal Navy stepping up surveillance of U.S.- and allied-sanctioned vessels in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

Sky News reported Wednesday that as many as 800 shadow tankers had passed through the channel, and continue to bankroll Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.

Several Russia-linked oil tankers — including the Rigel, Hyperion and Kousai — have been tracked by VesselFinder and are known to be under Western sanctions.

The outlet reported that three of the vessels were monitored this month as they transited loaded with sanctioned crude.

The Rigel, an 885-foot Suezmax-class tanker sailing under a Cameroonian flag, left the Russian port of Primorsk on Feb. 2, with up to one million barrels of oil, a cargo valued at around $55 million.

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The French navy diverts a suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker to Marseille-Fos port. (Reuters/Manon Cruz)

Sanctioned by the U.K., the EU and Canada, it is barred from using port facilities in those jurisdictions but is still permitted «innocent passage» under maritime law.

The Kousai, sailing under a Sierra Leonean flag, left Ust-Luga on Feb. 2, and was warned by authorities to provide proof of insurance within 24 hours.

The Hyperion, also sanctioned by the U.S., switched flags after delivering oil to Venezuela, to obscure ownership and evade enforcement, according to reports.

Security experts warned of an increased risk of geopolitical escalation in the region.

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Hundreds of shadow tankers have passed through the English Channel and European waterways, and continue to bankroll Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. (Kremlin Press Office / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

]Professor Michael Clarke told Sky News that there may come a point when Britain and its allies «get much tougher with these Russian ships,» adding that a «militarized confrontation at sea» this year is a real possibility, in the Channel or the North Sea.

A U.K. Ministry of Defense (MoD) spokesperson said: «Deterring, disrupting and degrading the Russian shadow fleet is a priority for this government.

«Alongside our allies, we are stepping up our response to shadow vessels — and as the Secretary of State set out, we will continue to do so,» the spokesperson said.

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The MoD said it has requested proof of insurance from more than 600 suspected vessels since October 2024.

The U.S. has also taken a firm stance, seizing at least seven tankers linked to sanctioned oil trades since December 2025, including several in the Caribbean.

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