Panama Joins Ukraine’s Cultural Resilience Alliance
Panama has made history as the first Latin American nation to officially join the Cultural Resilience Alliance (CRA), an international initiative launched in 2025 to support Ukraine's cultural sector and restore its heritage. Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture, Tetiana Berezhna, warmly welcomed Panama's decision, highlighting the significance of this new partnership between the two countries.
Mission and Structure of the Alliance
Established on July 10, 2025, in Rome during the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025), the CRA was founded through the signing of the Rome Manifesto. Coordinated and initiated by Ukraine, this platform unites governments, international organizations, donor agencies, and civil society representatives to strengthen cultural resilience. By the time Panama joined, the Alliance consisted of 32 members, including states, international bodies, donors, and community institutions.
The Alliance focuses on key objectives such as:
- Protecting, preserving, and restoring cultural heritage;
- Sharing expertise among members;
- Building and expanding international partnerships;
- Implementing joint projects;
- Enhancing the cultural sector’s capacity to address contemporary challenges.
“I welcome Panama to the Cultural Resilience Alliance. It is vital for Ukraine to have the first Latin American country join our international coalition. We look forward to transforming this partnership into tangible initiatives—focused on heritage preservation, expertise exchange, and strengthening cultural ties between our nations.”
— Tetiana Berezhna
Panama’s accession marks the Alliance’s expansion into Latin America, opening new avenues for cultural cooperation. This development reflects growing global support for Ukraine, especially in the context of rebuilding its cultural legacy amid the ongoing consequences of war.
Moreover, Panama’s involvement signals promising opportunities for broader collaboration between Ukraine and Latin America, potentially leading to new cultural exchange programs and heritage preservation efforts.