Panama City, Jan 28 (EFE).- The president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, this Wednesday called on the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to advance in integration to consolidate the region as a 'single bloc,' as the way to insert it into the new world order and guarantee both its defense against 'possible threats' and its role as a 'counterweight of peace, dialogue, and global balance.' Mulino made these remarks during his speech at the opening of the second edition of the International Economic Forum Latin America and the Caribbean, dubbed the Latin American Davos, which began this Wednesday with the presence of eight leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean and the objective of seeking new paths for the region's insertion into the global stage. 'I am convinced that Latin America must conform as a single bloc, for only in this way will it have negotiating power and concrete weight against possible threats' in a world where 'a new international order is being sought, further removed from idealism and closer to realistic diplomacy,' affirmed the head of state. 'We have already lived through this in our cyclical history, and we cannot make the same mistakes of the past. Global trade, exports, and imports are essential, but they become more efficient when using the Canal, which serves all of Latin America and the Caribbean.' This tension (…) has shown us how important we are with a strategic route at a global level, for North America, South America, Asia, or Europe', he added. Panama and the United States experienced moments of tension in 2025 due to the threat from U.S. President Donald Trump to recover the interoceanic canal, citing Chinese influence over the route, always denied by the Mulino government, which demanded that Washington not involve his country in its geopolitical struggle with China. This chapter of tension seems to have already been overcome, according to statements by high-ranking officials from both governments, who bet on continuing to strengthen ties in all areas. Before his colleagues from Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, and Chile, Mulino stated that 'Panama is not a competitor' in commercial terms 'but a complement to their economies.' 'World trade, exports, and imports are necessary, but they are more efficient if they use our canal, which is at the service of all of Latin America and the Caribbean,' he affirmed. At the forum's inauguration, organized by the development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), in addition to Mulino, the presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz; Colombia, Gustavo Petro; Ecuador, Daniel Noboa; Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo de León; the prime minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, and the elected ruler of Chile, José Antonio Kast, are participating. Mulino emphasized that Panama, due to the interoceanic canal and its strategic port system that moves almost 10 million containers a year, 'has lived with this tension for years,' a situation that 'has intensified in recent times.' 'No one comes with stories to Panama about how to resist pressure. This tension (…) has shown us how important we are as a strategic route at a global level, for North America, South America, Asia, or Europe', he added. The president stated that a new world order is being sought, one that is further removed from idealism and closer to realistic diplomacy, and that this has already been experienced in cyclical history, and the same mistakes of the past cannot be repeated. 'May the good and passionate Latin American discussions ultimately serve to unite us in a destiny of greatness,' he remarked. The president reiterated that, once again, Panama is not a competitor to other countries, but rather a complement to their economies. 'We are part of a strategic region, a food producer, with water reserves, with the greatest biodiversity, with an abundance of minerals and also renewable resources,' the Panamanian head of state warned. Being a 'single bloc,' Latin America and the Caribbean will be able to 'claim the place' that corresponds to them 'as permanent and not rotating members of the United Nations Security Council to guarantee peace' in a world that 'has long been in the tense antechamber of a great storm,' he indicated. 'We live in a reality in part due to the difficulty of international organizations in resolving conflicts, where the imposition of the factual power of each country appears. Mulino added that their countries urge them to focus more on common ground than on differences; to be more united for the benefit of their nations. Mulino explained that the world has long been on the tense brink of a major storm. 'Only in this way can we claim our rightful place as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, to guarantee peace in our world,' the president stated. 'We are part of a strategic region, a food producer, with water reserves, with the greatest biodiversity, with an abundance of minerals and also renewable resources,' he emphasized.
