2018 Panama–Venezuela diplomatic crisis
[12] According to President Varela, the sanctions imposed against Copa Airlines by the Maduro government will hurt Venezuelans since Panama is a logistic route for supplying medicine and food in response to the outgoing shortages.[15] Panamanian president Juan Carlos Varela indicated that his government would not recognize the 2018 Venezuelan presidential election results to persist the bilateral conflict.The Cabinet Council ordered the suspension, for a period of ninety (90) days extendable, of all activities of air transport, passengers and cargo of Venezuelan airlines operating in Panama, the companies are as follows: The measures took effect from April 25, 2018.[22] The Lima Group quickly positioned itself on the Panamanian side, condemned the Venezuelan sanctions imposed against Panama and assessed the possibilities of imposing additional international sanctions on the Maduro government, while at the same time recalling its non-recognition of the 2017 Venezuelan Constituent Assembly election and the repudiation of the upcoming presidential elections in Venezuela scheduled for May 20.[28] However, the talks collapsed on April 18, President Maduro himself revealed the existence of this meeting and blamed the head of the Panamanian delegation for "insults".