At the request of the new Government of Panama, the Perry Center held a one-day national security policy workshop (NSPW) for 30 officials from the Ministry of Public Security on August 7, 2019 at the InterContinental Miramar Hotel, in Panama City, Panama.

Vice Minister of Public Security Ivor Axel Pitti and WJPC Director LTG (ret.) Frederick Rudesheim opened and closed the workshop and spoke on improving interagency and international cooperation to promote U.S.-Panamanian security interests. The morning session included presentations on Panamanian and US national perspectives of transnational threats to the Western Hemisphere and our national security priorities. In the afternoon, participants were divided into two working groups facilitated by Perry Center Professors Celina Realuyo and Boris Saavedra.

All components of the Ministry of Public Security (National Police, SENAFRONT, SENAN, Migration) were represented at the workshop, and the participants were divided into two working groups charged with examining two areas of focus: (1) transnational organized crime (esp. drug and human trafficking) and (2) critical infrastructure protection and cybersecurity. The working groups reported back their findings to the Vice Minister and the Perry Center Director regarding threats they assessed and proposed ways forward to combat these threats in the plenary session.