In a significant diplomatic engagement, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino and Brazilian leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva conducted a substantive telephone conversation focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation and regional integration. The discussion, announced through President Mulino’s official X (formerly Twitter) profile, centered on strategic priorities for Latin American collaboration.
The presidential dialogue addressed Mulino’s potential participation in the prestigious International Economic Forum organized by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), scheduled for late January 2026 in Brazil. This high-level summit will convene political authorities and business leaders from across the region to address critical economic integration initiatives and global challenges.
Both heads of state reached consensus on the imperative to strengthen ties among Latin American nations, with particular emphasis on revitalizing partnerships within the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) framework. The leaders specifically highlighted Panama’s strategic role as a regional logistics hub and its potential synergy with MERCOSUR member states.
This diplomatic exchange occurs amidst ongoing preparations for the CAF summit and follows President Mulino’s recent attendance at the signing ceremony of the landmark Partnership Agreement between MERCOSUR and the European Union in Asunción, Paraguay. The telephone consultation represents part of broader efforts to amplify trade, investment, and multilateral cooperation between Panama and Brazil, thereby accelerating regional economic integration processes.