President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that her first face-to-face meeting with the president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, revolved largely around a strategic issue for global trade: the neutrality of the Panama Canal.
One channel, one economy
During her morning press conference, the president explained that Panama has multiple engines of economic development, “but perhaps the most important is the canal.” According to Sheinbaum, Mulino is an official with extensive experience in different areas of government who knows the reality of his country in depth and has promoted relevant initiatives in the matter.
Support for the Torrijos-Carter Treaties
The president revealed that the issue has also been present in her conversations with the president of the United States, and stressed that it “weighs heavily” that what was agreed upon in the historic Torrijos-Carter Treaties remains in effect.
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Key points of the Mexican position:
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- Panama promotes additional works in the canal zone.
- Mexico declares itself in agreement with the Panamanian efforts.
- Both governments agree that the progress on this front is significant.
The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, and the President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, during their meeting at the National Palace.
Cooperation against the screwworm
Beyond the canal, Sheinbaum highlighted a bilateral agreement that is already bearing fruit: the joint fight against the screwworm. Panama has a plant capable of producing nearly 100 million sterile flies, whose pupae are currently being transported to the new plant in Chiapas, recently inaugurated by the Mexican government.
According to the president, as that infrastructure is consolidated, Mexico will begin to produce these flies itself, reducing external dependence. The president acknowledged that Panamanian collaboration has been key to articulating this effort together with the United States Department of Agriculture.
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The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, and the President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, at the National Palace.
An expanding bilateral relationship
The meeting, held at the National Palace, is part of a broader official visit. Mulino arrived accompanied by his wife, Maricel Cohen, and officials from his cabinet. After more than two hours of meeting, both leaders agreed to relaunch bilateral cooperation in areas such as:
- Trade and investment
- Infrastructure and connectivity
- Security and crime fighting
- Mobility, tourism, culture and education
For his part, the Panamanian president thanked Mexico for its support of national sovereignty and described the canal as a “neutral tool of world trade.” In addition, he invited Sheinbaum to a future meeting with the Organization of American States (OAS) focused on regional security.
With this first direct approach, both governments are laying the foundations for an expanded bilateral agenda, in which the Panamanian canal and agricultural cooperation are emerging as the most visible axes of the relationship between both nations.
