Guatemalan President Arévalo arrives in Panama for bicentennial of Amphictyonic Congress

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo de León arrived in Panama on Sunday, June 21, to participate in the bicentennial commemoration of the Amphictyonic Congress. The historic meeting, originally convened by Simón Bolívar in 1826, sought to foster unity among the newly independent American states.

Arévalo, accompanied by his wife Lucrecia Peinado, arrived at Tocumen International Airport and received a ceremonial honor guard. The bicentennial events are set to be a significant diplomatic gathering, coinciding with the 56th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS). The combined events are expected to draw over 2,500 participants and 92 delegations.

Several regional leaders are attending the commemoration, including the presidents of Honduras, Colombia, and Ecuador, as well as the vice president of El Salvador. The gathering also includes numerous foreign ministers, ministers from other portfolios, ambassadors, permanent representatives, and delegates from eight international organizations.

For Panama, hosting these two significant events holds great symbolic importance. Two hundred years ago, the Amphictyonic Congress laid the groundwork for what would later be known as multilateralism and served as a primary precursor to the OAS. The convergence of these events underscores Panama's role in regional diplomacy and historical continuity.