Panama has launched a diplomatic campaign to broaden backing for the Panama Canal Neutrality Treaty, inviting 12 new countries to join the agreement. Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez made the push during meetings in Mexico, seeking to strengthen the legal framework that guarantees the canal remains open for peaceful transit by all nations.

Since the treaty took effect in 1977, over 40 countries have signed on to the protocol. The current outreach targets nations including Australia, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Serbia as Panama aims to expand international support amid growing competition over strategic trade routes. The government frames adherence as both a legal safeguard for global commerce and a signal of confidence in Panama's stability.

This diplomatic effort comes as Panama faces mounting tensions over its port infrastructure, particularly after declaring unconstitutional the concessions of two strategic ports operated by Hong Kong-based Panama Ports Company. The move triggered international legal disputes and criticism from China. Senior U.S. officials have also raised concerns about Chinese influence in the region and offered security cooperation to protect the canal within existing diplomatic frameworks.