News

July 23, 2025

The first coordination meeting of the Chairmanship of the Ministerial Council of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) for the 2025–2026 term was held this Monday at the Palacio Bolívar, marking a key step in the regional organization’s agenda. The session was chaired by Panama’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, alongside the Secretary-General of the ACS, Noemí Espinoza Madrid.

Present at the meeting—which reaffirmed the central role of the ACS as a multilateral platform for dialogue, cooperation, and integration in the Greater Caribbean—were also Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation, Carlos Guevara Mann, and Vice Minister Carlos A. Hoyos.

Minister Martínez-Acha Vásquez emphasized the significance of this coordination process, stating that “Panama plays an important role in the regional arena as a vital hub and host of the first Meeting of American States in 1826—considered a milestone in the history of international relations in Latin America and a symbol of the ideal of regional unity and cooperation.”

He also reaffirmed Panama’s strong commitment to multilateralism as a foundation for building consensus, strengthening regional cooperation, and defending democracy as the cornerstone for peace, stability, sovereignty, and sustainable development.

In the context of the progress driven by the ACS, the Minister acknowledged the organization’s achievements in key areas such as tourism, transport, trade, and disaster risk reduction, as well as advances made by the Caribbean Sea Commission and the Special Committee on Cooperation and Resource Mobilisation.

ACS Secretary-General Noemí Espinoza Madrid welcomed Panama’s assumption of the Council’s chairmanship, recognizing the country’s historical commitment to regional integration and highlighting this moment as a key opportunity to consolidate a strong Latin American-Caribbean position.