DVIDS – News – General Richardson visits Panama for high-level security dialogue, visits Darien

Panama (October 18, 2022) – U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of U.S. Southern Command, will be speaking as part of the U.S. delegation to the High-Level Security Dialogue (HLSD) from January 31st to February 2nd. I visited Panama until today. between Panama and America.

During his visit, Richardson also met with Public Security Secretary Juan Pino and Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vázquez, a conversation that focused on U.S. support for their organizations. On February 1, she accompanied Mr. Pino and senior U.S. and Panamanian security leaders to Darien to see Panama's latest security efforts to address the region's migration and humanitarian crises.

On February 2, U.S. Ambassador to Panama Mari Carmen Aponte and Deputy Under Secretary for Central America Eric Jacobstein led the HLSD, accompanied by Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Christopher A. Lundberg. The delegation also included Daniel Erickson, assistant secretary of defense for the Western Hemisphere.

During the HLSD, delegations emphasized efforts to strengthen bilateral security cooperation, including in the areas of border security, national security, cybersecurity, and maritime security. Through this dialogue and other bilateral efforts, the United States seeks to deepen U.S. support for Panama's efforts to counter transnational threats and strengthen the security of all its citizens.

Previous conversations have focused on cyber defense, maritime security, border security, and national security, as well as issues of mutual concern such as illegal immigration and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

The United States and Panama share a long-standing security partnership dating back more than a century.