Mulino and Lula Meet at Mercosur Summit

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, within the framework of the Mercosur Summit, held a private meeting with his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to review the progress made for the South American country to join the Canal Neutrality Treaty. They also discussed efforts for Panama to continue to be removed from discriminatory lists, a topic in which Brazil has expressed its unconditional support. Mulino also reiterated the invitation for Lula da Silva to visit the Canal next year and be the keynote speaker at the Latin American Economic Forum that CAF will hold in the country. President Lula expressed his enthusiasm for returning to Panama soon and his interest in visiting the Panamanian part of the Expanded Canal. In turn, Chancellor Javier Martínez-Acha congratulated the Brazilians for securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup, just like Panama, which achieved its qualification. Meanwhile, Mulino recognized the great brotherhood between the Panamanian and Brazilian peoples and that in this isthmus country there is a great following for the green and yellow national team.