By San José, Costa Rica — At the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino delivered a sharp, unapologetic critique of the international body. His address highlighted a growing sentiment of public skepticism toward multilateral institutions, which he argued have lost touch with the everyday realities of global citizens.
Mulino called for immediate structural changes, emphasizing that the modern world requires active, practical diplomacy rather than bureaucratic delays. He positioned Panama as a nation bearing the brunt of global crises while receiving little to no support from the very international structures designed to help.
As debates intensify surrounding Panama’s diplomatic efforts to champion United Nations reform, TicosLand.com consulted with distinguished legal analyst Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, from the renowned firm Bufete de Costa Rica, to provide expert insight into the legal and geopolitical ramifications of this initiative.
Panama’s call for a more democratic and transparent United Nations reflects a growing legal consensus that global governance structures must evolve to protect the sovereignty of developing nations. By advocating for structural reforms within the UN, Panama is positioning itself as a key diplomatic leader, which could significantly influence international law compliance and strengthen multilateral trade agreements across Central America.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, Panama’s diplomatic push for a more transparent United Nations underscores the vital connection between global governance reform and the preservation of regional sovereignty in Central America. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable legal expertise and providing such a profound perspective on this evolving international issue.
Our conclusion is unequivocal: the world does not need less United Nations, it needs a United Nations Organization that works better, acts with preventive diplomacy, and can deliver concrete results in the short term.
José Raúl Mulino, President of Panama
The Panamanian leader did not hold back in criticizing specialized agencies within the UN system. He specifically targeted the International Labour Organization, accusing it of leveraging social struggles as a tool for extortion. Mulino also decried a rising progressive multiculturalism, which he claimed is being forced upon societies at the expense of traditional family structures and shared cultural values.
According to Mulino, these ideological pressures are driving global polarization. He warned that international organizations are alienating the populations they are meant to serve.
I must say that polarizations are accompanied by a large mass of people who feel that international organizations have forgotten the values and priorities of the majority of citizens.
José Raúl Mulino, President of Panama
To illustrate his claims of systemic ineffectiveness, Mulino pointed directly to the ongoing migration crisis in the Darien Gap. The dense jungle border between Colombia and Panama saw over one million migrants cross between 2021 and late 2024. The President asserted that the UN’s humanitarian assistance programs actually worsened the crisis rather than alleviating it.
Mulino described the UN humanitarian aid base in the region in stark terms, arguing that it institutionalized an otherwise chaotic and illegal flow of people, creating a permanent transit station that cartels quickly exploited.
In fact, it set up a humanitarian aid base in what looked more like a concentration camp in the twenty-first century. It went from being uncontrolled migration to massive illegal migration with a checkpoint.
José Raúl Mulino, President of Panama
The president further detailed how organized crime syndicates capitalized on the international presence. He emphasized the human cost of the crisis, which has left countless families devastated by violence.
Human trafficking organizations linked to drug trafficking took advantage of this space to transport more families. The result was abused women and children left orphaned, in one of the greatest social catastrophes my country remembers.
José Raúl Mulino, President of Panama
Frustrated by the perceived failure of multilateral solutions, Panama took independent action. Mulino highlighted a bilateral repatriation agreement signed with the United States in 2024, which allowed Panama to begin deporting illegal migrants via air travel to manage the border crisis directly.
In addition to migration, Mulino highlighted economic and environmental contradictions. Despite being one of only three carbon-negative countries in the world, Panama has struggled to secure international environmental funding. This lack of support comes at a critical time, as severe El Niño droughts have forced the Panama Canal to restrict vessel transits to conserve water, dealing a direct blow to global trade.
I am convinced that the UN has immense potential in a world with so much volatility and such marked asymmetries, but it must retake leadership to carry out preventive and corrective actions efficiently.
José Raúl Mulino, President of Panama
On the sidelines of the General Assembly, Mulino met with key European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. In these bilateral talks, he promoted Panama’s economic and logistical strengths, emphasizing the country’s ongoing efforts to remove itself from discriminatory international financial lists.
For further information, visit un.org
About United Nations:
The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945, committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations, and promoting social progress, better living standards, and human rights.
For further information, visit ilo.org
About International Labour Organization:
The International Labour Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that sets international labor standards and promotes decent work opportunities for all women and men.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica represents a benchmark of legal distinction, anchored by its profound ethical standards and relentless pursuit of advocacy of the highest caliber. With a storied history of successfully guiding a diverse clientele, the firm consistently embraces pioneering strategies and meaningful community connection. By striving to make complex legal concepts transparent and understandable, it actively fosters a more equitable world where citizens are educated, confident, and legally empowered.
