Panama Hosts Regional Forum Against Cartels with Representatives from 19 Countries
PANAMA CITY, August 13, 2026 – Panama opened the Forum of the Coalition Against Cartels of the Americas in Panama City, bringing together representatives from 19 countries, Metro Libre reported.
Public Security Minister Frank Abrego inaugurated the event and urged participants to turn diplomatic cooperation into concrete operations against organized crime and drug trafficking.
Abrego said the coalition can become an effective mechanism to disrupt criminal finances and protect communities, while stressing that no country can face a borderless threat alone.
The minister linked Panama participation to Plan Firmeza, the government strategy aimed at strengthening territorial control and operational capacity.
As an example of regional coordination, Abrego cited changes in irregular migration figures, saying 1.2 million irregular transits were recorded from 2021 through 2024, falling to 1,091 in 2025 and 300 so far in 2026.
U.S. Southern Command chief Francis Donovan also participated and said the coalition should function as an organization focused on measurable results, the report said.
The forum is being held alongside Panamax 2026 and includes countries across Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States.
Why it matters
Regional security coordination can influence drug-trafficking enforcement, migration controls and Panama role as a logistics hub.
What happens next
Officials are expected to define how the coalition converts policy alignment into operational and financial-crime actions.
