During a meeting with his counterpart Nasser Bourita on Monday, Panama's Foreign Minister expressed his country's support for Morocco's autonomy plan for the Sahara. Speaking at a joint press conference, Javier Eduardo Martínez-Acha Vásquez described the proposal as «the most serious, credible, and realistic basis for progressing toward a lasting resolution» of the dispute, even calling it «the only basis» for a future solution. The Panamanian Minister of Foreign Affairs is visiting Morocco from June 14 to 18, 2025, as part of an official visit marked by a joint press conference with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, held on Monday in Rabat. During the meeting, which included the signing of a joint communiqué and two additional bilateral agreements, Javier Eduardo Martínez-Acha Vásquez declared that Panama views Morocco's autonomy plan for the Sahara as «the most serious, credible, and realistic basis» for resolving the regional dispute. Echoing Morocco's 2007 proposal, the Panamanian diplomat underscored the urgency of reaching a lasting and viable solution, especially given Panama's current role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. «In this context, the Republic of Panama reaffirms its support for Morocco's Autonomy Plan, presented in 2007 and supported by UN Security Council Resolution 2756, considering it the most serious, credible, and realistic basis for a lasting solution to the territorial dispute in the Sahara. I am convinced that, in the future, it will remain the only viable path forward», said the Panamanian Minister of Foreign Affairs. A Setback for the Polisario in Latin America This latest stance follows a year of gradual shifts in Panama's foreign policy regarding the Sahara. In January 2024, Panama and Morocco signed a joint declaration after a virtual meeting between Nasser Bourita and then-Minister Javier Eduardo Martínez-Acha Vásquez Mencomo. At the time, Panama had already declared its support for the Autonomy Plan as the «sole basis for a just and lasting solution» to the dispute and pledged to shape its future diplomatic actions accordingly. In November 2024, Panama officially suspended its relations with the so-called «Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)». Javier Eduardo Martínez-Acha Vásquez and Nasser Bourita «A New Phase» in Bilateral Ties In this latest meeting, the Panamanian minister reaffirmed his country's support for Morocco's territorial integrity and the diplomatic efforts led by King Mohammed VI to achieve a «definitive and viable» solution to the Sahara issue. «The Republic of Panama believes that the United Nations remains the appropriate forum to bring all parties together to reach a peaceful solution that upholds the principles of a sustainable resolution», the Minister added. The Panamanian official also reiterated support for UN-led efforts to reach a «durable, just, and mutually acceptable» settlement. Expanding Cooperation Between Morocco and Panama The two countries also highlighted their shared commitment to core values, including solidarity, mutual respect, multilateralism, peace, stability, human rights, and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. In addition to the joint communiqué, the visit resulted in two agreements: one on visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic and official passports, and a cooperation roadmap covering the 2025–2027 period. The visit also spotlighted the strong cooperation between Morocco and Panama across various sectors, particularly infrastructure. During the press briefing, Bourita announced plans to deepen ties in tourism, food security, and port logistics. «We share many similarities : significant investments in ports, railways, electricity transmission, and hospitals, with a single goal. That is to bring prosperity and a better life to our people», Javier Eduardo Martínez-Acha Vásquez said. In this context, the political rapprochement between Rabat and Panama continues to reinforce broader, multi-sectoral collaboration. Both countries emphasized the importance of people-to-people exchanges and cultural understanding, particularly through cooperation in education, the arts, and academic exchange. Last year, Panama had already signaled that this evolving partnership was aligned with its national interests and foreign policy priorities, guided by shared values and a commitment to multilateralism.
