Strengthening Government to Protect Critical Infrastructure

This IVLP project brought nine legislators from Panama’s National Assembly to Washington, DC to strengthen their ability to protect national sovereignty and critical infrastructure from malign foreign influence, particularly from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Through high level engagements—including briefings at the U.S. Department of State, Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, the Capitol, CSIS, NCSL, the Atlantic Council, IRI, and the Heritage Foundation—the delegation explored U.S. approaches to countering foreign interference, enhancing Canal security cooperation, and improving legislative oversight. The meeting with Representative John Moolenaar, Chair of the House Select Committee on the CCP, was particularly impactful, offering participants a direct legislative perspective on U.S. efforts to address strategic competition with China and protect critical infrastructure. Meetings at the Pentagon and State Department were also deeply influential, providing clear insights into U.S. security priorities and the strategic relevance of the Panama Canal, while sessions with Congress and NCSL expanded participants’ understanding of oversight mechanisms and comparative legislative practices.

Project Objectives

• Examine challenges and approaches to protecting national sovereignty from malign foreign influence
• Discuss strengthening bilateral Canal security cooperation
• Explore U.S. Congress’s roles and responsibilities in oversight
• Learn about practical tools to access, analyze, disseminate, and store public-sector data

Project Design

Over this 6-day program in Washington, DC, the Panamanian participants met with power players focused on critical infrastructure protection:

• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Understanding best approaches to combating transnational crime in Panama
• International Republican Institute (IRI): Understanding critical insights into Chinese influence in Central and Latin America, and finding opportunities for resilience against said influence
• The Heritage Foundation: U.S. response to China’s influence in the Panama Canal
• U.S. House Select Committee on the CCP: U.S. legislative perspectives on foreign investment, critical infrastructure, and partner-country engagement in Panama

Impact and Next Steps

Participants reported a clearer understanding of U.S. concerns regarding CCP influence, strengthened commitment to improving transparency and cybersecurity legislation, and expressed plans to pursue reforms in oversight, information security, and public contracting upon return to Panama.

The program provided immense value in reinforcing Panama-U.S. cooperation on protecting critical infrastructure from malign influence.