Javier Martínez Acha – Minister of Foreign Affairs

Javier Martínez Acha, a 60-year-old lawyer and economist, will be the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the government of José Raúl Mulino, who assumes the presidency of the Republic on July 1.  Martínez Acha has a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and economic sciences from Texas A&M University; In addition, he is a lawyer specializing in financial and banking law, international and corporate law and general manager and advisor to the board of directors of the firm Geneva Asset Management, SA.  Geneva Asset Management was founded by Acha, Joaquín De la Guardia and West Valdés. Valdés eventually left and founded his own brokerage house, the now-defunct Financial Pacific.  In his X account, he presents himself as Panamanian, social democrat and member of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD). At the time when former capital mayor Juan Carlos Navarro led the National Executive Committee (CEN) of the PRD, Martínez Acha was the first undersecretary of that party.  During the government of Martin Torrijos (2004-2009), he was secretary of the National Security Council. Martínez Acha and Torrijos are compadres, since he is the godfather of Daniela, Torrijos’s first-born daughter.  His family owns the Casa del Marisco restaurant, so it is common to see him there and share a table with figures from political events.  Among the challenges of the foreign relations portfolio is strengthening the country’s strategy to address migratory flows through Darién, consolidating the diplomatic career, managing its strategic position as a logistics and financial center, and diversifying its commercial and diplomatic relations, seeking a balance between the interests of global powers such as the United States and China as well as the defense of their interests in international forums.