Panama's President José Raúl Mulino arrived in Brazil to participate in the LXVII Summit of the Mercado Común del Sur (Mercosur), taking place this Saturday, December 20, in Foz do Iguaçu. This is a key meeting where Panama aims to strengthen its position within the Southern Cone economic bloc. At this regional forum, the Panamanian leader will formally present to the heads of state the law ratifying the Economic Complementation Agreement (ACE-76), a crucial step to consolidate Panama as an Associated State of Mercosur, which is made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. This is the second time Panama has participated as an associated country in a Mercosur summit. The first event took place in Argentina, where the country's integrating role, its logistical advantages, the strategic value of the Panama Canal, and advances in fiscal transparency were highlighted—topics that continue to shape the country's international agenda today. The summit will be attended by the presidents Luiz Inácio “Lula” Da Silva (Brazil), Javier Milei (Argentina), Santiago Peña (Paraguay), Yamandú Orsi (Uruguay), and José Raúl Mulino for Panama, in a scenario where economic, commercial, and regional integration issues are being discussed. Mulino was accompanied by a key team from his cabinet: Felipe Chapman, Minister of Economy and Finance; Julio Moltó, Minister of Commerce and Industries; Javier Martínez-Acha, Chancellor of the Republic; the Deputy Minister of Internal Trade, Eduardo Arango; and the Ambassador of Panama in Brazil, Flavio Méndez. Upon arriving at the hotel, the president had a close and informal moment, being greeted by a group of young Panamanians studying in Foz do Iguaçu, with whom he spoke about their academic experience and life far from the country, a gesture that revealed the human side of the official trip.
