Panama has been selected to chair the region’s primary anti-money laundering body next year. The country will assume the Pro Tempore Presidency of the Financial Action Task Force of Latin America (GAFILAT) for 2026, a decision made during the organization’s latest plenary session in Guatemala.
Isabel Vecchio Arófulo, Panama’s National Coordinator before GAFILAT, will lead the presidency. Her role places Panama at the helm of setting regional priorities and directing key committees for the 18-member organization. This position grants the country significant influence over initiatives in financial transparency and crime prevention.
“We assume this responsibility with a firm commitment to the transparency and integrity of the regional financial system. We will lead this presidency with a technical, cooperative, and innovative vision for the benefit of all member countries,” said Vecchio Arófulo. [Translated from Spanish]
The appointment comes as Panama prepares for its own upcoming international evaluation. It offers a strategic platform to showcase domestic reforms and technical capacity on a regional stage.
Strategic Priorities and Regional Agenda
Panama’s leadership agenda will focus on several critical areas for the Financial Action Task Force of Latin America (GAFILAT). Officials confirmed a push for advancing beneficial ownership systems and improving the supervision of virtual assets. Enhancing international cooperation and preparing members for upcoming mutual evaluations are also top priorities.
These evaluations, conducted by the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF), assess a country’s anti-money laundering frameworks. Panama itself is preparing for its next FATF review. Leading GAFILAT provides a unique opportunity to strengthen internal systems and share best practices regionally.
The country aims to use its term to bolster the overall effectiveness of financial investigations across member states. This involves promoting risk-based supervision models and specialized training programs.
A Recognition of Recent Progress
Analysts view Panama’s selection as a direct acknowledgment of its recent efforts to improve its financial integrity systems. The country successfully exited the FATF’s “grey list” of jurisdictions under increased monitoring in 2023. Vecchio Arófulo personally led the inter-institutional effort that achieved that delisting.
Her professional background is deeply rooted in the field. She is a lawyer specializing in public administration and the prevention of money laundering. Her experience includes active participation in technical forums and risk-based supervision processes.
Further demonstrating progress, Panama’s Public Ministry presented “Operation Celada” at the same GAFILAT plenary. This complex money laundering investigation was a finalist for the organization’s 2025 Best Case award. It marked the fourth consecutive year Panama has been recognized for its investigative work.
The case involved effective cross-border coordination with Ecuador to track illicit funds, prosecute perpetrators, and recover assets. It served as a practical example of the international cooperation Panama now seeks to champion as GAFILAT president.
For member countries, the Mutual Evaluations (Anti-Money Laundering) process is a constant benchmark. Panama’s upcoming leadership role is strategically timed to align with its own preparation cycle for these rigorous assessments.
The 2026 presidency effectively positions Panama as a central figure in shaping the region’s response to evolving financial crimes. The country now carries the task of translating its stated agenda on transparency and integrity into actionable regional policy.