Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino met on Tuesday at the Palace of the Herons with the head of the U.S. Southern Command, General Francis L. Donovan, where both agreed that the fight against cartels, terrorism, and organized crime must go beyond agreements between two countries.
During the meeting, which also included U.S. Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera, key topics were addressed, including the protection of ports, supply chains, and the need to maintain a climate of peace, order, and prosperity in the region.
Both Donovan and Cabrera stated that Panama is the best partner for the United States in Central America and the Caribbean, highlighting that in Washington, President Mulino is recognized as an ally in the fight against drug trafficking and illegal migration.
The head of the Southern Command expressed interest in strengthening the multilateral "Shield of the Americas" strategy, while both parties saw the upcoming Panamax exercises, involving nearly 20 countries, as a key opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation against criminal organizations and human trafficking.
According to Donovan, Panama will be a key piece in this strategy.
Additionally, the United States showed interest in expanding the exchange of strategic information on maritime security and illegal operations.
Mulino, for his part, proposed to resume the coastal surveillance system with radar, which was active until 2014, and to strengthen the judicial system to facilitate the work of prosecutors against criminals.
The president also warned of the need to create a law to prevent criminal organizations from using cryptocurrencies to launder illicit money, as part of the new challenges in security.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Javier Martínez Acha, Canal Minister José Ramón Icaza, Security Minister Frank Ábrego, along with the directors of SENAFRONT, Larry Solís, and SENAN, Luis De Gracia.
