The president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, was received this Wednesday at the National Palace by President Claudia Sheinbaum, within the framework of an official visit focused on trade, investment, and regional security cooperation. During his message to the press, the Panamanian leader called on more countries in the region to support the neutrality protocol of the Panama Canal.
Panama seeks regional support for the neutrality of the Canal
Mulino described Mexico and Panama as “bridge countries”: Mexico as a link between North America and Latin America, and Panama between the oceans and the two halves of the continent. He said he had spoken with Sheinbaum about the importance of more nations adhering to the Canal’s neutrality protocol, which he described as a tool of world trade that protects an asset useful, according to him, for the entire international supply chain, not just for the country where it is located.
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Regional security: recognition for the operation against the CJNG
In the section dedicated to security, the Panamanian president congratulated Sheinbaum, her government, and the Mexican Army for an operation carried out in the Guadalajara region last February, in reference to the February 22 operation in the municipality of Tapalpa, Jalisco, in which federal forces killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho”, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, according to official information released at the time by Sedena. Mulino described the event as part of the recovery of the monopoly on force by democratic institutions.
The president also mentioned efforts together with the OAS to coordinate regional intelligence actions against drug trafficking, and called on Mexico to be “an important actor” in that effort.
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The February 22 operation in the Jalisco municipality takes place in the Guadalajara region and is presented as a blow to the leadership of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, according to previous official reports
Trade, investment and an economy “the most connected in Latin America”
The president highlighted figures of the Panamanian economy, among them:
- A projected growth of nearly 4% for this year.
- A special regime for multinational company headquarters, with more than 190 companies operating under that scheme, of which only two are Mexican.
- A position as a logistics, air, and financial platform that, he said, is the most connected in the region.
Mulino noted that this afternoon he would hold a meeting with Mexican business leaders to promote greater Mexican investment in Panama, a sector in which—he stated—there is room for growth.
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President José Raúl Mulino proposes to Claudia Sheinbaum that more nations join the agreement to protect the interoceanic waterway, noting that it is a key instrument for global trade.
Invitation to the CAF and closing of the message
Mulino extended an invitation to Sheinbaum to attend the CAF event in January 2027, which brings together government and private sector representatives each year, and which—as he stated—is gaining regional weight over time. He closed his message by offering Panama’s collaboration “for whatever is needed” and described the meeting as a new stage in the bilateral relationship.
