Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has officially accepted an invitation to meet with United States President Donald Trump and other regional leaders. The meeting is scheduled for March 7 in Miami, Florida, according to a statement released by the Panamanian presidency.
Diplomatic channels delivered the formal notification this week. The gathering will mark President Trump’s first major regional summit since taking office over a year ago. It will include leaders from several Central and South American nations perceived as politically aligned with the U.S. administration.
Summit Details and Attendee List
An anonymous White House official confirmed the March 7 date to the AFP news agency on Wednesday. The invitation list extends beyond Panama. Presidents Javier Milei of Argentina, Rodrigo Paz of Bolivia, Daniel Noboa of Ecuador, Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, Nasry Asfura of Honduras, and Santiago Peña of Paraguay are also expected to attend.
These leaders share varying degrees of political affinity with the current U.S. government. The Trump administration has made engagement with these specific Southern neighbors a notable, and somewhat unexpected, focus of its foreign policy. This meeting occurs as the broader, traditionally scheduled Summit of the Americas remains postponed without a set date.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio provided President Mulino with a preliminary notice about the invitation on January 21. The official communication followed through standard diplomatic protocols. Discussions at the Miami summit will center on geopolitical issues affecting the American continent.
“The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, received the official notification to participate in the meeting of heads of state convened by the President of the United States, Donald Trump,” the Panamanian presidency stated. [Translated from Spanish]
This direct engagement highlights the Mulino administration’s strategic approach to bilateral relations. The president has recently emphasized regional integration and collaborative work during international forums. His attendance signals Panama’s intent to maintain a close dialogue with Washington on shared continental interests.
Regional Political Context and Implications
The selective nature of the guest list underscores a shift in diplomatic engagement. It points to a U.S. strategy favoring partnerships with governments exhibiting specific ideological tendencies. This move effectively creates a parallel forum to the more inclusive, but currently dormant, traditional hemispheric summit.
For Panama, participation offers a platform to address critical bilateral issues directly with President Trump. These likely include trade, security cooperation, and managing regional migration flows. The meeting follows other high-level contacts between Panamanian and U.S. officials, which have sometimes involved clarifying Panama’s sovereign policy positions. Previous reports have shown Panama denying certain operational links to U.S. interdiction efforts, a topic that may arise in private discussions. donald trump
Analysts suggest the summit aims to solidify a bloc of Western Hemisphere allies. The goal is fostering coordinated responses to economic and security challenges. This gathering represents a tangible step in that direction, bringing together leaders who have often expressed support for Trump’s policy outlook.
The geopolitical landscape in the Americas continues to evolve rapidly. President Mulino’s confirmed presence at this meeting places Panama within a core group of nations engaged in this new dialogue format. The outcomes could influence investment, security pacts, and diplomatic alliances across the region for years to come.
Observers will watch for any joint statements or initiatives announced after the closed-door talks. The focus will be on concrete actions rather than ceremonial declarations. This meeting’s impact on Panama’s international standing and its complex relationship with the U.S. will become clearer in the subsequent weeks. The dynamics of the mulino donald trump relationship will be tested in this multilateral setting.