In December 2011, he opted for diplomatic isolation by vetoing the euro zone's plan to embed its fiscal pact in the EU treaties rather than risk confrontation with his party's Europhobes in parliament.
In the former Canal Zone, meanwhile, another diplomatic tiff concerned Panama's decision to award a contract to run the ports of Cristobal and Balboa to Hong Kong's Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. in a deal that Ambassdor Hughes said was unfair to American bidders.