President Herzog begins four-day Latin America visit

Israel is the only Middle Eastern country with which Panama maintains a formal free trade agreement.

By Pesach Benson, TPS

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will depart Wednesday for a four-day official visit to Panama and Costa Rica, marking the first visit by an Israeli president to Panama, his office announced on Sunday.

Herzog will begin his visit in Panama, where he will hold diplomatic talks with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino and senior government officials.

The discussions will focus on expanding bilateral relations.

Panama is considered one of Israel’s close allies in Central America and is currently serving as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

Israel is the only Middle Eastern country with which Panama maintains a formal free trade agreement.

The visit follows a meeting between Herzog and Mulino at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Herzog is also expected to meet members of the local Jewish community, estimated at 10,000–15,000 people.

From Panama, he will continue to Costa Rica to attend the inauguration of incoming President Laura Fernández Delgado, at the invitation of outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves Robles.

Herzog’s office described both Costa Rican leaders as strong supporters of Israel.

During his stay, Herzog will meet Fernández Delgado and attend a gala dinner for visiting heads of state hosted by Chaves Robles.

He is also expected to meet regional leaders from Central and South America, along with international dignitaries attending the inauguration. Later, he will meet members of Costa Rica’s Jewish community, one of the oldest in Central America.

Thousands of Costa Rican agronomists, educators, engineers, and public officials have received training through MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, in fields including agriculture, water management, education, public health, and rural development.