Panama Convenes Meeting of Alliance for Development in Democracy Foreign Ministers in Bogota

Panama convened today a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Alliance for Development in Democracy (ADD) countries, the first of its kind since Ecuador acceded to the group during the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles earlier this year. This initiative, which was established by Panama, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic in September 2021, is focused on aligning the foreign policies of member countries to strengthen democratic institutions and achieve economic growth for the region and its people.  

Panama’s Foreign Minister, Erika Mouynes, convened the foreign ministers in Bogota, Colombia, to continue their ongoing dialogue. The four ministers were in Bogota for the inauguration of the president-elect of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, on Sunday, August 7. During this meeting, the ministers discussed the significance of a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the ADD and the United States to formalize a dialogue regarding supply chain resiliency and cooperation to generate economic growth across the region. As part of this dialogue, the leaders of the Alliance will work with the U.S. government, as well as with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to identify opportunities, challenges, and areas for collaboration toward creating a better environment for democracy and private sector investments.  

Moving forward, the Alliance will continue to collaborate in developing greater stability and prosperity in the region. Working with the United States and other partners positions Panama and the other members of the Alliance to lead the region’s post-pandemic economic recovery. The Alliance plans to hold its next Presidential Summit in September 2022 on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly to discuss additional avenues of cooperation.  

Minister Mouynes also used the trip to meet with several other foreign ministers, including her new Colombian counterpart, Álvaro Leyva. The pair discussed a number of topics, including migration, security, trade, investment, and environmental conservation. They also began outlining a tentative program for the first meeting between Panama’s President Laurentino Cortizo and Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro. Colombia and Panama share a rich history and a bright future, and this meeting set the groundwork for greater collaboration in promoting economic, social, and cultural ties while also tackling the region’s most pressing issues.