On a working visit to Havana, Panama's Foreign Minister, Javier Martínez-Acha, held meetings with both the president Miguel Díaz-Canel and the ten Panamanians detained in Cuba, in an agenda marked by tension and diplomatic urgency.
During his official visit, Martínez-Acha was welcomed at the Palace of the Revolution by Díaz-Canel, in a meeting where both parties discussed issues of bilateral cooperation, multilateralism, and potential areas for joint work, especially in sectors such as medicine and biotechnology.
According to official reports, the Cuban leader expressed his willingness to strengthen economic and trade exchanges between both countries, while the Panamanian chancellor thanked for the warm welcome and the facilities provided for his agenda.
But beyond the diplomatic speeches, the most sensitive point of the visit took place outside the official halls.
The Panamanian chancellor held a direct meeting with the ten detainees at Villa Marista prison, the headquarters of State Security in Havana. According to La Estrella de Panamá, the dialogue lasted approximately an hour, during which Martínez-Acha was able to assess their health status and verify that they are receiving humane treatment and legal assistance.
After the meeting, the head of Panama's diplomatic service pledged to convey a message of support to the families in Panama and reiterated his government's willingness to find a solution within the framework of Cuban laws.
On social media, the Panamanian Foreign Ministry also confirmed the meeting with Díaz-Canel and emphasized that the chancellor expressed gratitude for the treatment provided to his detained compatriots, in a gesture that seeks to balance diplomatic pressure with the institutional tone of the bilateral dialogue.
The visit takes place in a particularly delicate context. The ten Panamanians were arrested in late February and face charges of propaganda against the constitutional order, a crime that could carry sentences of up to eight years in prison.
While the Cuban government claims that they conducted graffiti against the political system, other reports assert that the group had humanitarian purposes amid the crisis the island is experiencing.
The case has generated concern both in Panama and among sectors of Cuban society, where expressions of support and calls for his release have been reported.
Before meeting with Díaz-Canel, the head of Panamanian diplomacy held a bilateral meeting with his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, where both highlighted the historic relations between the two countries and addressed issues of regional cooperation.
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