India Aims to Strengthen Latin American Ties on Terrorism as Tharoor Arrives in Panama

The Indian parliamentary delegation led by Shashi Tharoor arrived in Panama as part of India's ongoing international campaign to rally support for its zero-tolerance stance on terrorism. The visit follows earlier high-level engagements in Guyana, where the former UN Under-Secretary-General secured expressions of solidarity from senior Caribbean leaders.

According to diplomatic sources in Panama City, the delegation was received at the airport by the Indian Ambassador, who formally welcomed the team on behalf of the Indian mission. The visit is aligned with Operation Sindoor, India’s multi-pronged global outreach following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. It marks another step in a coordinated deployment of multiple all-party delegations to strategic regions around the world.

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Tharoor’s presence in Panama underscores New Delhi’s intent to extend its counter-terror diplomacy into Latin America — a region not traditionally central to India’s security dialogue but increasingly seen as geopolitically relevant in broader multilateral coalitions. Embassy officials described the visit as “focused and outcome-driven,” with particular attention on communicating India’s concerns over cross-border terrorism to emerging regional powers.

Earlier in the day, India’s Ambassador to Panama, Sumit Seth, held bilateral discussions with Panamanian Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney Mencomo and key officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting covered preparations for upcoming high-level visits, an action plan for the second half of 2025, and joint initiatives in trade, technology, training, and tourism. Officials noted that the expanding India–Panama cooperation framework is being leveraged to align positions on global security and counter-terror efforts.

Sources familiar with the visit noted that Tharoor — known for his diplomatic agility and oratorical acumen — is expected to lead a series of dialogues with lawmakers, policy institutions, and regional forums during the Panama leg. His personal familiarity with multilateral institutions and Latin American foreign policy is considered by Indian officials as an asset in this particular phase of India’s diplomatic outreach.

The Panama engagement is part of a wider Latin American focus under Operation Sindoor, which aims to build political consensus against terrorism and press for coordinated international action on terrorist financing and state sponsorship of extremism.

The delegation’s message, officials emphasised, is consistent across all stops: India’s political unity on terrorism is firm, and it expects reciprocal clarity from its partners.

Tharoor’s rapid transit from Georgetown to Panama City — captured in brief media appearances and lesser than usual social media updates — signals the intensity and scale of India’s diplomatic drive. As one official put it, “This is clear cut strategic signaling on our part.”

India’s decision to involve multi-party delegations has allowed its global messaging to carry bipartisan credibility, with representatives from ruling and opposition parties working in tandem. In Panama, this political unity is expected to reinforce the seriousness of India’s message, particularly in multilateral settings where moral clarity and democratic legitimacy matter.

The delegation’s next steps may include engagements with regional organizations and follow-ups on India–CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) frameworks. While not all meetings are being disclosed publicly, officials have confirmed that India's intent is to make terrorism a key item in all its major diplomatic dialogues in 2025.