Foreign relations of Panama

Panama's foreign relations are conventional in outlook, with Panama being especially aligned with United States since the 1989 US invasion to topple the regime of General Manuel Noriega. The United States cooperates with the Panamanian government in promoting economic, political, security, and social development through U.S. and international agencies.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Panama maintains diplomatic relations with:

#	Country	Date [1] [2]
1	United States	13 November 1903
2	France	18 November 1903
3	Russia	21 November 1903
4	Peru	18 December 1903 [3]
5	Costa Rica	29 December 1903
6	Japan	7 January 1904 [4]
7	Italy	15 January 1904
—	Venezuela (suspended) [5]	3 February 1904
8	Chile	1 March 1904
9	Mexico	1 March 1904 [6] [7]
10	Brazil	2 March 1904 [8]
11	Cuba	7 April 1904
12	Switzerland	6 April 1904
13	Netherlands	20 April 1904
14	Spain	10 May 1904
15	Portugal	21 May 1904
16	Uruguay	28 October 1904
17	Honduras	18 September 1907
18	Belgium	15 February 1908
19	United Kingdom	9 April 1908
20	Ecuador	1 September 1908 [9]
21	El Salvador	9 March 1909
22	Argentina	5 November 1920
—	Holy See	21 September 1923
23	Colombia	9 July 1924
24	Czech Republic	25 March 1929 [10]
25	Guatemala	25 January 1935 [11]
26	Dominican Republic	17 March 1937
27	Denmark	30 June 1937
28	Sweden	3 July 1937
29	Norway	31 July 1937
30	Nicaragua	13 December 1938
31	Bolivia	26 August 1942 [12]
32	Paraguay	31 October 1942
33	Haiti	11 October 1945
34	Lebanon	30 April 1946
35	Israel	18 June 1948 [13] [14]
—	Sovereign Military Order of Malta	2 August 1948
36	Turkey	21 September 1950 [15]
37	Germany	17 December 1951
38	Serbia	26 March 1953
39	Austria	18 October 1955
40	Greece	5 September 1956 [16]
41	Egypt	21 February 1958
42	Madagascar	20 September 1960 [17]
43	Canada	11 August 1961
44	India	1 July 1962
45	South Korea	30 September 1962
46	Jamaica	29 July 1966 [18]
47	Ethiopia	17 August 1967
48	Pakistan	7 November 1967
49	Cyprus	1 April 1971
50	Romania	5 October 1971
51	Algeria	9 February 1973
52	Guyana	16 March 1973
53	Libya	21 March 1973 [19]
54	Bulgaria	29 March 1973
55	Guinea	29 March 1973
56	Poland	15 August 1973
57	Philippines	28 September 1973
58	Guinea-Bissau	16 October 1973
59	Australia	20 February 1974
60	Grenada	18 November 1974
61	Iran	7 January 1975
62	Hungary	5 August 1975
63	Vietnam	28 August 1975
64	Syria	17 February 1976
65	Finland	19 February 1976
66	Malta	19 February 1976
67	Sri Lanka	8 March 1976
68	Kuwait	23 March 1976
69	Iraq	8 June 1976
70	Morocco	15 February 1977
71	Albania	20 August 1978
72	Indonesia	27 March 1979
73	Suriname	1 May 1979
—	Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (suspended) [20]	1 June 1979
74	Equatorial Guinea	13 May 1981
75	Belize	1 December 1981
76	Myanmar	15 July 1982
77	Singapore	6 August 1982
78	Barbados	20 August 1982 [21]
79	Thailand	20 August 1982
80	Nepal	15 February 1984
81	Bangladesh	5 June 1984 [22]
82	Cameroon	14 August 1984 [23]
83	Luxembourg	12 November 1985
84	Senegal	27 October 1987
85	Sudan	13 September 1988
86	Bahrain	27 April 1989
87	Angola	16 February 1989
88	Maldives	19 February 1989
89	Ghana	24 February 1989
90	Bahamas	1 May 1991
91	Lithuania	19 November 1992
92	Saint Kitts and Nevis	19 November 1992
93	Moldova	15 February 1993
94	Slovakia	15 February 1993
95	United Arab Emirates	9 March 1993
96	New Zealand	22 March 1993
97	Seychelles	21 May 1993
98	Ukraine	21 May 1993
99	Malaysia	24 July 1993
100	Jordan	7 February 1994
101	Oman	25 February 1994
102	Latvia	22 March 1994
103	Trinidad and Tobago	24 May 1994
104	South Africa	10 January 1995
105	Estonia	13 January 1995
106	Azerbaijan	6 April 1995
107	Slovenia	10 May 1995
108	Saint Lucia	10 July 1995
109	Kazakhstan	28 July 1995
110	Cambodia	15 February 1996
111	Brunei	28 March 1996
112	Papua New Guinea	3 May 1996
113	Croatia	12 July 1996
114	Andorra	16 July 1996
115	Antigua and Barbuda	27 September 1996
116	Armenia	7 August 1998
117	Belarus	22 October 1998
118	Georgia	18 November 1998
119	Iceland	4 June 1999
120	Nigeria	12 February 2001
121	Ireland	14 February 2001
122	Qatar	8 February 2002
123	North Macedonia	18 April 2002
124	Namibia	April 2002 [24]
125	Afghanistan	3 May 2002
126	San Marino	22 January 2004
127	Bosnia and Herzegovina	14 July 2004
128	Benin	20 September 2005
129	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	17 July 2006
130	Tunisia	15 June 2007
131	Montenegro	9 May 2008
132	Botswana	15 December 2009
133	Djibouti	15 December 2009
134	Monaco	22 November 2010
135	Burkina Faso	29 July 2011
136	Liechtenstein	3 January 2012
137	Mongolia	17 January 2012
138	Dominica	13 March 2012
139	Palau	18 April 2012
140	Solomon Islands	11 September 2012
141	Fiji	9 November 2012
—	Kosovo	28 August 2013 [25]
142	Saudi Arabia	14 January 2015
143	Turkmenistan	24 July 2015
144	Ivory Coast	29 April 2016
145	China	12 June 2017
146	Tajikistan	26 May 2018 [26]
147	Togo	26 March 2019
148	Kenya	26 September 2019
149	Cape Verde	9 April 2021 [27]
150	Laos	9 September 2021
151	Kyrgyzstan	24 September 2021
152	Uzbekistan	29 November 2021
153	Timor-Leste	20 September 2022 [28]
154	Federated States of Micronesia	20 September 2022 [29]
155	Mauritania	22 September 2022
156	Rwanda	18 September 2023
157	Uganda	22 September 2023 [30]
158	Vanuatu	21 November 2023
159	Zimbabwe	28 December 2023
160	Kiribati	30 January 2024
—	Cook Islands	8 March 2024 [31]
161	Marshall Islands	23 September 2024
162	Zambia	24 September 2024
163	Somalia	20 January 2025 [32]

Bilateral relations

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Armenia	7 August 1998
Belgium	15 February 1908	Belgium has an embassy in Panama City. Panama has an embassy in Brussels and a consulate-general in Antwerp.
Canada	11 August 1961 [1]	See Canada–Panama relations Canada has an embassy in Panama City. [33] Panama has an embassy in Ottawa and consulates-general in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. [34]
China	2 January 1909 [1]	See China–Panama relations and Panama–Taiwan relations. Panama established a diplomatic relationship with the Qing dynasty in 1909. After the Xinhai Revolution, Panama recognized the establishment of the Republic of China (ROC), and retained diplomatic ties with the ROC until 2017. According to diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks, in 2009, after President Ricardo Martinelli took office, Panama wished to switch diplomatic relations from the ROC to the People's Republic of China (PRC). [35] This was rejected by the PRC, which did not want to disrupt its improving diplomatic relations with the ROC during the ROC Presidency of Ma Ying-jeou. [35] On June 12, 2017, President Juan Carlos Varela announced that Panama has established a diplomatic relationship with People's Republic of China, and Panama has severed diplomatic relationship with the Republic of China (Taiwan). [36] China has an embassy in Panama City. Panama has an embassy in Beijing and consulates-general in Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shanghai.
Chile	1 March 1908 [1]	Chile has an embassy in Panama City. [37] Panama has an embassy in Santiago and a consulate-general in Valparaíso. [38]
Colombia	9 July 1924	See Colombia–Panama relations Colombia has an embassy in Panama City and consulates in Colón, Jaqué and Puerto Obaldía. Panama has an embassy in Bogotá and a consulate-general in Barranquilla.
Costa Rica	29 December 1903	See Costa Rica–Panama relations Panama has an embassy in San José. Costa Rica has an embassy in Panama City and a consulate in David.
France	18 November 1903	France has an embassy in Panama City. Panama has an embassy in Paris and a consulate-general in Marseille.
India	1 June 1962 [1]	See India–Panama relations Panama is the first country in Central America where India established a resident embassy in 1973. Bilateral commercial and trade relations are steadily growing between India and Panama, with Panama seen as the gateway for expansion into Latin America. [39] India has an embassy in Panama City. [40] [41] Panama has an embassy in New Delhi [42] and a consulate-general in Mumbai.
Kosovo	27 August 2013 [43]	Panama officially recognised the independence of the Republic of Kosovo on 16 January 2009. [44] Kosovo and Panama established diplomatic relations on 27 August 2013, following the establishment of diplomatic relations Kosovo announced it would be opening an embassy in Panama and that this embassy would be Kosovo's 'gateway to Latin America'. [45] Kosovo has an embassy in Panama City. [46] Both countries enjoy excellent relationships.
Mexico	29 May 1923 [1]	See Mexico–Panama relations Mexico has an embassy in Panama City. [47] Panama has an embassy in Mexico City and a consulate-general in Veracruz City. [48]
Peru	2 March 1908	Main article: Panama–Peru relations Panama has an embassy in Lima. Peru has an embassy in Panama City.
Russia	21 November 1903 [1]	See Panama–Russia relations Panama has an embassy in Moscow. [49] Russia has an embassy in Panama city. [50]
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic	1 June 1979 [1]	See Panama–Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic relations Panama was the first Latin American country on recognizing the SADR in 1978, during the military rule of Omar Torrijos. [51] Panama also has the oldest Sahrawi embassy in Latin America. Relations were suspended from 20 November 2013 to 7 January 2016;. [52]
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	2006 [1]	Both countries established diplomatic relations on July 17, 2006. [53] Both countries are full members of the Organization of American States.
Serbia	1953 [1]	Both countries have established diplomatic relations in 1953. [54] A number of bilateral agreements have been concluded and are in force between both countries. [55]
South Africa	1995 [1]	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 January 1995. [1] [56] Panama has an embassy Pretoria. South Africa is accredited to Panama from its embassy in Lima, Peru. [56]
South Korea	30 September 1962 [1]	See Panama–South Korea relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on Sep 30, 1962. Panama has an embassy in Seoul. [57] South Korea has an embassy in Panama City. [58] [59] [60]
Spain	10 May 1904 [1]	See Panama–Spain relations Panama has an embassy in Madrid and consulates-general in A Coruña, Barcelona, Las Palmas and Valencia. [61] Spain has an embassy in Panama City. [62]
Thailand	20 August 1982	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 August 1982. [1] [56] Panama has an embassy in Bangkok. Thailand is accredited to Panama from its embassy in Santiago, Chile. [56]
Turkey	21 September 1950	See Panama–Turkey relations Panama has an embassy in Ankara. [63] Turkey has an embassy in Panama. [63] Trade volume between the two countries was US$260.9 million in 2019 (Panamanian exports/imports: 12.1/248.8 million USD). [63]
United Kingdom	9 April 1908	See Foreign relations of the United Kingdom The UK established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 9 April 1908. Panama maintains an embassy in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Panama from its embassy in Panama City. [64] Both countries share common membership of the World Trade Organization, as well as the Central America–UK Trade Continuity Agreement. [65] Bilaterally the two countries have an investment agreement. [66]
United States	13 November 1903 3 April 1964 [1]	See Panama–United States relations The United States cooperates with the Panamanian government in promoting economic, political, security, and social development through U.S. and international agencies. Cultural ties between the two countries are strong, and many Panamanians go to the United States for higher education and advanced training. In 2007, the U.S. and Panama partnered to launch a regional health worker training center. The center provides training to community healthcare workers in Panama and throughout Central America. About 25,000 American citizens reside in Panama, many retirees from the Panama Canal Commission and individuals who hold dual nationality. There is also a rapidly growing enclave of American retirees in the Chiriqui Province in western Panama. Panama has an embassy in Washington, D.C., and consulates-general in Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia and Tampa. [67] United States has an embassy in Panama City. [68]
Uruguay	28 October 1904	See Panama–Uruguay relations Panama has an embassy in Montevideo. Uruguay has an embassy in Panama City.
Venezuela	1717	See Panama–Venezuela relations

Multilateral relations

Panama is a member of the UN General Assembly (and most major UN agencies) and has served three terms in the UN Security Council. In November 2006, it was elected to serve a two-year term on the Security Council, beginning January 1, 2007. It maintains membership in several international financial institutions, including the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.

Panama is a member of the Organization of American States and was a founding member of the Rio Group. Although it was suspended from the Latin American Economic System — known informally both as the Group of Eight and the Rio Group — in 1988 due to its internal political system under Manuel Noriega, Panama was readmitted in September, 1994 as an acknowledgment of its present democratic credentials.

Panama is also one of the founding members of the Union of Banana Exporting Countries and belongs to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. Panama is a member of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) as well as the Central American Integration System (SICA). Panama joined its six Central American neighbors at the 1994 Summit of the Americas in signing the Alliance for Sustainable Development known as the Conjunta Centroamerica-USA or CONCAUSA to promote sustainable economic development in the region.

Panama is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military (as covered under Article 98).

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in Panama
• List of diplomatic missions of Panama

References

1. "RELACIONES DIPLOMÁTICAS DE LA REPÚBLICA DE PANAMÁ" (PDF). p. 195. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
2. "Diplomatic relations between Panama and ..." United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
3. "Cancillería conmemora los 120 años de relaciones diplomáticas entre Panamá y Perú". mire.gob.pa (in Spanish). 18 December 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
4. "パナマ共和国（Republic of Panama）". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
5. "Panama suspends diplomatic relations with Venezuela pending election review". 29 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
6. "Viceministra Otero participó en la inauguración de la exposición «México y Panamá: dos istmos, dos aliados y dos historias compartidas"". mire.gob.pa (in Spanish). 14 May 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
7. "México y Panamá conmemoran 120 aniversario de relaciones diplomáticas". gob.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 March 2025.
8. "Canciller Tewaney participó en el acto conmemorativo de los 201 años de independencia de Brasil". mire.gob.pa (in Spanish). 8 September 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
9. "PANAMÁ BUSCA OTORGAR UN IMPULSO RENOVADO A LAS RELACIONES DIPLOMÁTICAS CON ECUADOR". 6 February 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
10. Las relaciones entre Checoslovaquia y América Latina 1945-1989. En los archivos de la República Checa (in Spanish). Karolinum Press. 2015. p. 267.
11. "88 años de relaciones diplomáticas entre Guatemala y Panamá". mire.gob.pa (in Spanish). 17 August 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
12. "Bolivia y Panamá celebran 79 años de relaciones diplomáticas". cancilleria.gob.bo (in Spanish). 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
13. "FICHA PAÍS: ISRAEL" (PDF). intelcom.gob.pa (in Spanish). p. 4. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
14. "Canciller Henriquez recibe a embajador del Estado de Israel". mire.gob.pa (in Spanish). 6 September 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
15. "Conmemoramos el 74 aniversario del establecimiento de relaciones diplomáticas entre la República de Panamá y la República de Türkiye". Embajada de Panamá en Turquía on Facebook (in Spanish). 21 September 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
16. "Canciller Tewaney participó en la apertura de la Embajada de Grecia en Panamá". mire.gob.pa (in Spanish). 31 January 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
17. "03. ANEXO" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 January 2020.
18. "Trabajando junto de cara al 55 aniversario del establecimiento de las relaciones diplomáticas y consulares entre la República de Panamá y Jamaica ..." Embajada de Panama Jamaica Kingston (in Spanish). 11 June 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
19. "Ministro Encargado recibe al Encargado de Negocios de la Embajada de Libia". mire.gob.pa (in Spanish). 9 September 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
20. "Comunicado De Suspensión De Relaciones Diplomáticas Con La República Árabe Saharaui Democrática". MIRE-Panamá (in Spanish). 21 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
21. "Panamá profundiza vínculos con Barbados para reforzar relación comercial". elcapitalfinanciero.com (in Spanish). 3 April 2024. Archived from the original on 28 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
22. Near East/South Asia Report Issue 84116. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1984. p. 65. [ Dhaka THE BANGLADESH OBSERVER in English 6 Jun 84 p 1 ] TIES WITH PANAMA -- The Government of Bangladesh and the Government of Panama have decided to establish diplomatic relations between them at the level of ambassador from today ...
23. "Panamá y Camerún conmemoran hoy el inicio de sus relaciones diplomáticas desde 1984". mire.gob.pa (in Spanish). 14 August 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
24. "Namibia muestra interés en fortalecer lazos con Panamá". mire.gob.pa (in Spanish). 1 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
25. Gëzim Visoka (2018). Acting Like a State: Kosovo and the Everyday Making of Statehood. Abingdon: Routledge. pp. 219–221. ISBN   9781138285330.
26. "Panama establishes diplomatic relations with Tajikistan". 26 May 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
27. "ENCUENTRO ENTRE LOS EMBAJADORES DE PANAMÁ Y CABO VERDE, ACREDITADOS EN LISBOA" (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 May 2022.
28. "Together with Foreign Minister ErikaMouynes of Panama, I signed Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between TimorLeste & Panama in the margins on the 77th Session of the #NGA (20/09)". 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
29. "The Federated States of Micronesia Establishes Diplomatic Relations with the Republic of Panama & the Kingdom of Bahrain". 22 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
30. "En el marco de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas, me reuní con mi homólogo de Uganda, Jeje Odongo, para el establecimiento de Relaciones Diplomáticas entre nuestras naciones" (in Spanish). 23 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
31. "THE COOK ISLANDS FORMALISE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH PANAMA". 8 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
32. "Panama and Somalia Forge New Diplomatic Ties at UN Security Council Meeting". 20 January 2025. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
33. "Embassy of Canada in Panama City (in English, French and Spanish)". 27 May 2021.
34. "Embassy of Panama in Ottawa (in English and Spanish)".
35. "WikiLeaks: China rejects Panama's wish for ties". Fox News . 27 March 2015.
36. Xin, Qiang (2024). "Selective Engagement: Mainland China's Dual-Track Taiwan Policy". In Zhao, Suisheng (ed.). The Taiwan Question in Xi Jinping's Era: Beijing's Evolving Taiwan Policy and Taiwan's Internal and External Dynamics. London and New York: Routledge. p. 69. ISBN   9781032861661.
37. Embassy of Chile in Panama City
38. Embassy of Panama in Santiago de Chile
39. "India-Panama Relations" (PDF). Ministry of External Affairs . Retrieved 15 January 2014.
40. "Indian Embassy in Panama".
41. "Indian mission in Panama".
42. "Panama Embassy in India".
43. "Panamá puerta de entrada de Kosovo a América Latina" (in Spanish). 27 August 2013. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
44. Panama recognised independent state of Kosovo, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo, 2009-01-16
45. Panamá puerta de entrada de Kosovo a América Latina Archived 2016-09-17 at the Wayback Machine , Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de la República de Panamá, 2013-08-27 (in Spanish)
46. Panama, Ministria e Punëve të Jashtme-Ambasada e Republikës së Kosovës në. "Ministria e Punëve të Jashtme - Ambasada e Republikës së Kosovës në Panama". Ministria e Punëve të Jashtme - Ambasada e Republikës së Kosovës në Panama. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
47. "Embassy of Mexico in Panama City (in Spanish)".
48. Embassy of Panama in Mexico City (in Spanish)
49. "Embassy of Panama in Moscow (in Spanish)". Archived from the original on 2018-03-07. Retrieved 2014-11-30.
50. "Embassy of Russia in Panama City (in Russian and Spanish)". Archived from the original on 2009-06-24. Retrieved 2019-12-18.
51. "Panamá y la república Saharaui". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
52. "Algeria: Sahrawi Embassy in Panama Reopens". AllAfrica. 2016-01-07. Retrieved 2015-01-13.
53. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
54. "Panama". Archived from the original on 2020-07-04. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
55. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-01-01. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
56. "Panama (Republic of)".
57. "주한파나마대사관" [Embassy of Panama in Korea]. naver.com (in Korean).
58. "주 파나마 대한민국 대사관".
59. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea-Latin America and Caribbean". Archived from the original on 2015-07-05. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
60. "Korea-Panama Relations".
61. "Embassy of Panama in Madrid (in Spanish)".
62. "Embassy of Spain in Panama City (in Spanish)".
63. "Relations between Turkey and Panama".
64. "British Embassy Panama City". GOV.UK . Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
65. "UK and Central America sign continuity agreement". GOV.UK. 18 July 2019. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
66. "Panama - United Kingdom BIT (1983)". UN Trade and Development . Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
67. Embassy of Panama in Washington, D.C.
68. Embassy of the United States in Panama City

Further reading

Further information: Panama–United States relations

• Ealy, Lawrence O. The Republic of Panama in world affairs, 1903-1950 (U of Pennsylvania Press, 1951). online
• Farnsworth, David N., and James W. McKenney. US-Panama relations, 1903–1978: A study in linkage politics (Routledge, 2020).
• Major, John. "‘Pro mundi beneficio’? The Panama Canal as an international issue, 1943–8." Review of International Studies 9.1 (1983): 17–34.
• Williams Jr, Harold E. Panamanian-US Relations Towards 2000: An Opportunity for Partnership (Naval Postgraduate School, 1995) online.