PANAMA · DIPLOMACY
Key Facts
- —What is happening Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino thanked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio by phone on Tuesday, 27 October for help after the 9 October earthquake.
- —Why it matters The call shows Washington staying close to Panama during its recovery, and it put the race to lead the United Nations on the table.
- —The numbers President Donald Trump approved an initial US$5 million, and 20 US specialists helped check buildings. The quake measured 7.7 on the US Geological Survey scale.
- —Who is who Mulino is Panama’s president; Rubio is the top US diplomat; António Guterres, the UN secretary-general, leaves office on 31 December.
- —What to watch Panama plans 2,700 new houses after the quake, and the UN must pick a successor to Guterres who starts on 1 January 2027.
- —Power Index Panama ranks 11th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 34.2 points (October 2026 edition).
- —What it means for you US aid to Panama is continuing, and travellers should check local advisories before visiting the four quake-hit provinces.
Panama’s president thanked the US for earthquake help in a call with Rubio. He also asked that the next UN chief come from Latin America.
Panama’s president thanked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio by phone on Tuesday, 27 October, for help after the 9 October quake. President José Raúl Mulino also discussed who should lead the United Nations from 2027, the foreign ministry says.
It matters to US readers because Washington is helping this Central American ally recover from the quake. More is in the Rio Times Panama hub.
What the Call Covered
The foreign ministry says Mulino thanked the United States for humanitarian aid and for staff who checked buildings for structural damage. It calls that help “enormous” for the reconstruction now under way.
A second ministry note says Rubio sent a message of solidarity from the American people and promised support through the whole rebuilding. The first note adds that the two discussed the state of democracy in the region.
The ministry says both men agreed that the next UN chief needs broad consensus. Neither ministry note mentions the Panama Canal.
What the United States Has Sent
US Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera said in mid-October that President Donald Trump approved US$5 million, which he called only the initial help. The United States also provided 20 specialists to assess damage to schools, churches and hospitals.
Cabrera said Washington was weighing more engineers and had brought in Black Hawk helicopters through US Southern Command, its regional military arm. The ministry says aid including food, water and communications systems arrived within 24 hours.
The Quake and Panama’s Rebuilding
The US Geological Survey, the US government’s earth-science agency, recorded a magnitude 7.7 quake on 9 October. Panamanian reports have used 7.5, and the government declared a national emergency.
The worst-hit areas are the provinces of Herrera, Los Santos, Veraguas and Coclé. Earlier coverage is in the Rio Times report on the first quake victim.
On the same Tuesday, Mulino ordered 1,400 more houses on top of 1,300 already started, after a cabinet meeting. The cabinet also let a state-bank trust fund builders, and a resolution allows up to US$100 million for special emergency contracts.
The Rio Times has also covered a US$310 million credit line for quake-hit firms and a telethon for quake homes. Both show the cost of recovery.
Why the UN Chief Matters
Guterres, a Portuguese former prime minister, ends his term on 31 December. His successor starts on 1 January 2027.
Mulino argued that the unwritten rule of regional rotation should give the post to Latin America or the Caribbean. The ministry says Rubio and Mulino agreed that the choice needs broad consensus.
What It Means for US Readers
US aid in Panama is ongoing, and the ambassador says more may follow. Charities, companies and Panamanian families in the United States can expect continued coordination between the two governments.
Travellers should check local advisories for Herrera, Los Santos, Veraguas and Coclé before visiting, since reconstruction continues. Neither ministry note mentions the Panama Canal.
What Is Not Known
No official US total for the aid was found, only the US$5 million initial sum. The full US readout of the call was not found, and the ministry notes name no candidate for UN chief.
The final death toll and total damage bill were not in the sources reviewed. It is also unclear whether the US plans to add funds beyond the US$5 million Trump approved.
What Comes Next
The first 1,300 houses are under construction, with 1,400 more ordered. Mulino says the money will be there, and Rio Times will track whether builders meet the pace.
The UN will pick Guterres’s successor before 1 January 2027, though no vote date appears in the notes. The call does not mean Washington has backed a Latin American candidate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Rubio call Panama’s president?
Panama’s ministry says Rubio called to review recovery after the 9 October earthquake and to discuss the next UN secretary-general. Mulino thanked the United States for its help.
How much has the United States given Panama?
President Trump approved an initial US$5 million, which Ambassador Cabrera called only a first sum. No full official US total was found.
What did Mulino ask about the UN?
He asked that the next secretary-general come from Latin America or the Caribbean, citing regional rotation. Both men agreed on seeking broad consensus.
How strong was the Panama earthquake?
The US Geological Survey recorded magnitude 7.7 on 9 October, while Panamanian reports used 7.5. The worst damage was in Herrera, Los Santos, Veraguas and Coclé.
Does this affect the Panama Canal?
Neither ministry note mentions the canal. Nothing in them points to a change in canal policy.
Sources: Panama Foreign Ministry, 27 October; Panama Foreign Ministry, call note; Panama City daily, call and UN term, 27 October; Panama City daily, houses, 27 October; Panama daily, cabinet resolution, 27 October; Panama local news site, call, 27 October; Panama daily, US ambassador, 16 October; Panama City daily, ambassador briefing, October; US Geological Survey, 9 October event (all accessed 28 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief