A delegation of 14 United States congressmembers held a private, closed-door meeting with Panamanian legislators on Friday, January 16. The unannounced gathering took place in the Blue Room of Panama’s legislative headquarters and focused on bilateral relations and governance issues.
The meeting lasted approximately one hour and was not listed on any official public agenda. Security personnel cordoned off the area surrounding the Blue Room, and no media were invited or present during the discussions. The visit underscores ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two nations’ governing bodies.
According to internal sources, the US delegation included both Democratic and Republican representatives from states including California, Hawaii, and Florida. The group met with the president of the National Assembly of Panama and deputies from various political blocs.
“It is an honor to receive a group of United States congressmembers in the National Assembly. This is another sign of the respect between both nations and the interest in strengthening relations between both parliaments,” said Deputy Roberto Zúñiga in a social media post. [Translated from Spanish]
Zúñiga, a member of the Vamos bloc who participated in the meeting, provided the only substantive details to emerge. He stated that topics of discussion included government transparency, anti-corruption efforts, and initiatives related to seizing assets from drug trafficking. He noted the US lawmakers were impressed by what they perceived as a new generation seeking to clean up the legislative body.
Panama Canal Administration Discussed
A specific point of conversation involved the management of the Panama Canal. Deputy Zúñiga reported that Panamanian legislators emphasized the waterway is being well administered by Panamanian authorities. He stated the US delegation was “content” and “at ease” with the explanations provided.
Zúñiga explicitly stated that a separate, contentious memorandum of understanding between the two countries was not discussed during this particular meeting. The delegation is scheduled to tour the Canal to see its operations firsthand, a visit framed as an opportunity for direct observation.
Images captured after the meeting concluded showed the US legislators departing the Blue Room and boarding a bus that had transported them to the Assembly complex. The group then left the premises without making any public statements to the waiting press corps.
The private nature of the meeting is not uncommon for diplomatic exchanges but highlights the sensitive nature of ongoing bilateral talks. These discussions often occur away from public scrutiny to allow for more frank conversation. Engagement between the United States Congress and Panama’s legislature has been a recurring feature of the relationship, especially concerning regional security and trade.
Analysts suggest such visits allow US lawmakers to receive briefings directly from foreign counterparts, informing their policy decisions back in Washington. For Panamanian officials, it represents a chance to advocate for their positions and underscore national sovereignty over critical assets like the Canal.
No further meetings between the delegation and Panamanian state officials have been publicly confirmed at this time. The visit’s outcomes will likely be reflected in future legislative and diplomatic exchanges rather than immediate public announcements.