With the official opening of the Bicentennial of the Congress of Panama, an agenda of academic, diplomatic, cultural, intergovernmental, and multilateral activities began, which projects Panama onto the international stage as the home for hemispheric dialogue and as a «living heir to the Bolivarian ideal of unity, justice, and peace among nations». Panama highlights the relevance of the Bolivarian legacy in the current context of Latin America, considering the Congress of Panama a mechanism to protect independence from the risks of authoritarianism, internal fragmentation, and foreign domination. It is a call for continental unity based on legality, institutions, and respect for popular will, which, 200 years later, retains unquestionable moral force. In this first modern attempt at multilateralism in the American continent, Simón Bolívar envisioned Panama as the natural space of encounter for American republics, which, without renouncing their sovereignty, could cooperate, peacefully resolve conflicts, and collectively defend themselves against external threats. In this sense, multilateralism constitutes a current instrument that must be strengthened with effective mechanisms to protect democracy, peace, and the dignity of peoples. Two centuries later, Panama continues to exercise that historical vocation as a point of convergence for international dialogue, promoting consensus in a global scenario marked by geopolitical tensions, inequalities, and challenges to democratic governance. The Bicentennial of the Congress of Panama constitutes an opportunity to renew the regional commitment to an international system based on norms, the sovereign equality of States, and respect for International Law. This historical moment should be seized to project the country as a benchmark for dialogue, solidarity, and democratic principles and to renew the commitment of the Panamanian nation to international cooperation and solidarity for sustainable development and the common good.
