Ministerio de Relaciones Exterioresmire

Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, located in San Felipe in Panama City, was the scene of our first official visit in this year’s study tour. On arrival at the Ministry, we were greeted by Mr. Francisco Marquez who gave the group an overview of Panama’s history.

The ministry is housed in a building rich in history; formerly a monastery and a Jesuit college, adjacent to the former Presidential Palace. Panama’s rich cultural history is reflected in its architecture and great care has been taken to preserve and protect the historic architecture of the country. We were introduced to the idealism of the Bolivarian Republics of which Panama is one. These are nations which were former states of Gran Colombia which were liberated by Simon Bolivar; save Trinidad and Tobago which was captured by the British before these liberation efforts. Although Simon Bolivar never set foot in Panama, he chose the nation to be the central hub for the Bolivarian Republics.

We were privileged to see the replica of the sword of Simon Bolivar. The history of the Bolivarian alliance was enumerated with such fervor and alacrity that we could not help but be moved by the presentation. The reverence for their leader as well as the alliance was evident during the visit. Panama became the seat of the alliance and still to this day maintains its strategic position as the meeting place of the ambassadors of the Alliance.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for the ensuring the strategic objectives of the Government of Panama. These objectives are: to defend Panamanian national interest; to comply with and enforce constitutional norms, international laws and treaties signed by the Republic of Panama; professionalizing and modernizing Panamanian Foreign Service in accordance with the requirements of the new international order. Panama’s mission is to design and implement a coherent foreign policy as an instrument to promote international openings and manage opportunities and partnerships for the effective development of the Panamanian people. The Ministry is able to successfully achieve this through their management of the relationships with other nations, by formulating and implementing foreign policy. The Ministry is therefore able to facilitate trade among other states in the Latin American region.

Panama has benefited greatly from the alliance of these nations and has fostered trade agreements with other countries regionally and globally. Amongst the team, comparisons were made to Panama’s successes in forming strategic links with their neighbouring countries and T&T’s efforts to forge and become the hub of regional alliances.

There is much that Trinidad and Tobago can learn from the Panamanian model of forging alliances based on historical and geographical similarities and developing these alliances into profitable trade relations. The exposure gained from this experience would therefore significantly aid in our country’s efforts to accomplish strategic alliances.


By: Curtis, Ronel and Joseph