José Antonio Kast at CAF Forum in Panama: "Without security, democracy is a fiction"

The President-elect of Chile, José Antonio Kast, participated today in the inauguration of the International Economic Forum Latin America and the Caribbean 2026, organized by CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean- in alliance with the Government of Panama. At the event, which brings together more than 2,500 political and business leaders and international experts, Kast warned that "without security, democracy is a fiction", stressing that the advance of organized crime represents a regional threat that requires "tough, effective and uncomplicated" cooperation.

Designed as a high-level space to promote regional dialogue and solutions in the face of a changing global environment, the Forum brought together leaders from the region, including Panama's President José Raúl Mulino, Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz Pereira, Colombia's President Gustavo Petro, Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa, Guatemala's President Bernardo Arévalo, and Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

President-elect José Antonio Kast addressed key issues related to unity, the situation of poverty and insecurity in Latin America and the need for joint cooperation. "For Chile, this implies looking at Bolivia, Peru and Argentina not from suspicion, but from concrete cooperation. For Latin America, it implies understanding that no country can save itself alone in an increasingly competitive and tougher world. Fragmentation weakens us. Coordination strengthens us," concluded the president-elect, who will frame his participation in an active international agenda.

For his part, CAF's executive president, Sergio Díaz-Granados, opened the day with a call to turn ideas into actions that improve the lives of people throughout the region and said that "in the global political chess game we are a major player. That is why we at CAF believe that the trigger for opportunities lies in correcting the structural imbalances that afflict us, and I am referring to the high level of informality, the persistence of poverty, unemployment, insecurity, sudden migrations and the erosion of democratic institutions. The problems that plague and mistreat the region will find their answer through collective action that prioritizes well-being and overcomes ideological differences".

During the two days, the Forum will highlight the need to advance towards concrete strategies for regional cooperation that enhance the competitive advantages of Latin American and Caribbean countries, consolidating spaces for high-level dialogue to face the challenges of an increasingly complex global context. It will also include panels with international experts, special sessions on macroeconomic stability, productivity and growth, and networking and business opportunities to facilitate the connection between regional exporters and global investors.