Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino reviewed his 18 months in power, a period he himself described as heavy, demanding, and full of decisions that did not please everyone, but which—according to him—were necessary. Mulino stated that the country had been carrying years of disorder, improvisation, and poorly distributed privileges, and that his government had to put out fires while people continued to work, study, and seek ways to survive. He acknowledged that there were sacrifices but insisted that he did not come to administer chaos but to tackle it head-on. One of the topics he defended the most was the closure of the migratory passage through the Darién. Without promising miracles or sweet speeches. A raw balance, as he himself painted it: a government under pressure, uncomfortable decisions, and a route that is still not over. The message was direct: the Canal is Panamanian, it remains Panamanian, and it will continue to be so. Regarding Panama's entry into Mercosur as an Associated State, he spoke of opportunities. More markets, more movement, more strategic weight. He said this was not a coincidence, but the result of active diplomacy that seeks to place the country at the center of the map between the north and south of the continent. Mulino closed by reaffirming that Panama maintains cooperation with the United States against international crime, that security has been strengthened, and that the country remains a key point in the region. Without directly mentioning Donald Trump or China, he made it clear that there was a tense moment when relations with the United States seemed to break. He noted that it was handled with a cool head, diplomacy, and patience. He recalled that millions of people were crossing in inhumane conditions, without control, without knowing who was entering or with what background. He said that is over. That the State regained control, deportations and repatriations were activated, and that this dark chapter must not be repeated. He called it by its name: a humanitarian and environmental disaster. On the international front, Mulino spoke clearly about the blacklists that hit the country's image.
