Panama Strengthens Strategic Ties with Greece, Secures Maritime Growth and New Opportunities
President José Raúl Mulino concluded a successful state visit to Athens, Greece, reinforcing Panama’s position as one of the world’s leading maritime registries while strengthening diplomatic, commercial, and maritime ties between the two nations.
The visit marked a significant step in restoring confidence among Greek shipowners—the largest European users of the Panamanian flag—and underscored Panama’s commitment to protecting and enhancing the competitiveness of its maritime sector. Throughout the mission, President Mulino held high-level meetings with Greek President Konstantinos Tasoulas and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, focusing on international trade, maritime cooperation, and economic development.
A major outcome of the visit was the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding covering tourism cooperation and political consultations. The tourism agreement promotes collaboration between the public and private sectors, including investment promotion, innovation, digitalization, education, and professional training. The political consultations mechanism aim to strengthen bilateral relations through regular diplomatic dialogue and cooperation on regional and international issues.
In recognition of his efforts to deepen relations between Panama and Greece, President Mulino received the Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer, the Hellenic Republic’s highest state honor awarded to foreign heads of state.
The Panamanian leader also joined Prime Minister Mitsotakis at the opening of Posidonia 2026, one of the world’s premier maritime exhibition, held biennially in Athens. The event brought together more than 2,000 exhibitors from 138 countries and provided Panama with an important platform to engage directly with global maritime stakeholders.
A central focus of the visit was strengthening relations with Greece’s influential shipping community, whose fleets play a critical role in global trade and represent nearly 500 vessels registered under the Panamanian flag, making the partnership strategically important to Panama’s economy and shipping registry.
Among the most tangible achievements of the visit was the announcement by Tsakos Shipping & Trading that four new Panamax tanker vessels currently under construction will be registered under the Panamanian flag. The company also expressed interest in creating new employment opportunities for Panamanian seafarers, further expanding Panama’s participation in the global maritime workforce.
Addressing business leaders, government officials, and members of the Panamanian community attending Posidonia 2026, President Mulino reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting Panama’s maritime interests and maintaining strong partnerships with Greece. He instructed Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maritime Authority, and Embassy in Greece to continue implementing high-level initiatives to safeguard and strengthen the sector.
During meetings with maritime authorities and industry representatives, the President also outlined plans to modernize Panama’s Ship Registry through new technologies, improve customer service for current and future clients, attract additional vessel registrations, and address external challenges affecting Panamanian-flagged ships. Particular attention was given to evaluating solutions related to vessel detentions in China, an issue impacting the competitiveness of the registry.
Beyond maritime affairs, both Panama and Greece emphasized their shared commitment to free navigation, international law, democratic values, and multilateral cooperation. As members of the United Nations Security Council, both countries highlighted the importance of preserving global trade routes and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of international commerce.
The visit concluded with renewed confidence from Panama’s maritime partners, strengthened diplomatic relations, expanded cooperation in tourism and foreign affairs, new employment prospects for Panamanian seafarers, and the registration of four additional vessels under the Panamanian flag—outcomes that reinforce Panama’s standing as a leading global maritime and logistics hub.
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