ABSTRACT
Panamanian involvement in drug trafficking became a major issue in the United States (US)-Panamanian relationship through a series of diplomatic incidents and near-incidents, caused by the Him Gonzales and Moises Torrijos cases. The Panamanian opposition then used the Presidential certification certification in US federal courts to prevent Noriega’s government from gaining access to Panamanian assets held by US commercial banks. Indicating that US policy was changing, the State Department approved trips by Ingersoll to Panama to discuss US concerns about Panama’s drug trafficking role. As Panamanian opposition to Noriega continued, the US Senate kept the pressure on the general. The resolution also directed the United States to vote against Panamanian loan requests before multilateral development banks and prohibited importation of Panamanian sugar. The resolution also directed the United States to vote against Panamanian loan requests before multilateral development banks and prohibited importation of Panamanian sugar.
