External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday, 20 July held talks with visiting Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez in New Delhi, reaffirming India's intent to deepen bilateral ties with Panama — citing the country's strategic location, the Panama Canal, and its role as a gateway to Latin America.

Key Developments

In his opening remarks, Jaishankar underscored momentum built through recent high-level exchanges, including the fifth India-SICA Ministerial meeting co-chaired by both ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last September. He said both governments and their respective leaders are 'very keen at deepening and widening our partnership.'

'Panama serves as a natural bridge for us for global trade routes as a gateway for the wider Latin America region and anchored by the Panama Canal, your logistics infrastructure certainly sets a global landmark,' Jaishankar said.

Sectors on the Agenda

Jaishankar highlighted India's interest in collaborating with Panama across education, scholarships, pharmaceuticals, technology, and trade. He noted Panama's 'consistently high growth trajectory' and linked deeper bilateral engagement to India's own development ambitions under Viksit Bharat — the government's vision of a developed India by 2047.

He also pointed out that India and Panama already work in close coordination within the United Nations and other multilateral forums, providing an existing institutional foundation for expanded cooperation.

Pahalgam Attack: Panama's Solidarity Acknowledged

Jaishankar formally thanked Panama for expressing support for India's right to self-defence following the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir in April 2025. He acknowledged Panama's 'clear-cut condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.'

'I would like to thank you and the government of Panama for your expression of solidarity and support for our right of self-defence in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack,' Jaishankar said.

Strategic Significance

The meeting reflects India's broader push to expand its diplomatic and economic footprint in Latin America and the Caribbean. Panama, as the operator of one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, holds particular relevance for Indian exporters and shipping interests. This comes amid India's accelerating engagement with the SICA (Central American Integration System) bloc, of which Panama is a member.

Notably, the visit builds on a pattern of India prioritising relationships with smaller but strategically positioned nations — a recurring theme in New Delhi's evolving foreign policy calculus under the current administration.

What Comes Next

The two ministers were expected to hold detailed discussions following the opening remarks, with outcomes likely to cover trade facilitation, pharmaceutical market access, and potential scholarship programmes. A joint statement or roadmap for bilateral cooperation may follow the talks.