In statements to the Spanish digital media outlet Otralectura, the diplomat described as absurd the pretext chosen by Washington to escalate tensions in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific.

“If the United States truly wants to eradicate the root causes of drug trafficking, it would be more logical to start looking for them in its own country,” he emphasized.

In the interview with the outlet’s director, Koldo Salazar, Moscow’s representative in Panama considered that the attacks carried out by the Southern Command against civilian vessels on the high seas, which have already left more than 80 people killed, without any evidence being presented publicly, violate a wide range of international norms.

In that regard, he mentioned several articles of the UN Charter, the OAS Charter, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

Gavrilov quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who stated that “this is not how countries that abide by the law act, but rather those that believe themselves to be above the law.”

He added that a frontal fight against drug trafficking is indeed necessary, but it must always be carried out in close collaboration with all actors involved, especially the governments of the region, with strict adherence to international law.

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