Panama has begun the formal process to apply for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program by creating an inter-institutional working group to strengthen border security, information exchange, and academic, cultural, and business ties. The work will be carried out in close cooperation with the United States Embassy in Panama and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), an official statement noted. The formation of the Working Group is 'a strategic step of great importance for Panama, which seeks to consolidate a State vision based on inter-institutional coordination and shared responsibility with a historical and strategic partner such as the United States,' highlighted the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama. 'This is,' he explained, 'a key tool for aligning public policies, identifying gaps, avoiding duplication, and ensuring coherence between international commitments and their internal implementation.' For his part, the United States ambassador to Panama, Kevin Cabrera, stated that his government 'is working jointly with Panamanian authorities to share information and ensure that travel is efficient and safe.' Cabrera acknowledged that it is 'a complex process, which will not be immediate, but we are moving forward in a coordinated manner to meet all the requirements established' by US legislation.
