The presence of the Sovereign Order of Malta in Panama is first recorded around the 1580s when Don Pedro Bravo de Acuña, Knight of the Order of Malta and Governor of the Kingdom of New Grenada, organized expeditions in the territories of what is today’s Panama in search of waterways between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. His plan preceded by centuries the opening of the famous Panama Canal.

Over a century later, Don Pedro Morcillo Rubio de Aunon, Knight of the Order of Malta and Member of the Trinitarian Order, was Bishop of Panama from 1731 to 1742. During his mission he was involved in charitable work in hospitals and schools as well as for the benefit of the convent of the Discalced Carmelites.

Recognition of sovereignty of the Order of Malta by modern Panama came in 1948. Moreover, in 1973 the Legations of both parties raised to the rank of Embassies following the Credentials presentation by Ambassadors of Panama and the Order of Malta the previous year.

Throughout the years there have been humanitarian activities developed by the Order of Malta in Panama in collaboration with local authorities and entities. In the 1970s and 1980s in coordination with the Panamanian Ministry of Health the Order of Malta implemented “Caravanas de Asistencia Sanitaria” (Medical Assistance Caravans) for blood pressure monitoring and oncological awareness. In later years scholarships programs, relief donations on occasions of floods and fires as well as assistance to a youth center related to the Juvenile Court were implemented.

Humanitarian collaboration has continued in more recent times with provisions of food, healthcare interventions, and medical supplies. In 2019, the year of the World Youth Day held in Panama and with the Order of Malta actively contributing to the celebrations, also an important Cooperation Agreement between the Order of Malta and Panama was signed. Since then, the existing fruitful collaboration has further developed including the complex phase of the covid-19 pandemic allowing the Order of Malta to implement every year significant programs involving distribution of medicines, medical equipment, protective gear, food, and other goods for the benefit of vulnerable local groups as well as of migrants and refugees arriving to Panama.

Along the solidarity and humanitarian interventions, the relations between the Order of Malta and Panama since the earliest years of mutual diplomatic recognition have been strengthened and have thrived thanks also to regular meetings and visits of the highest authorities.
In 1987, and again in 2000, the Presidents of Panama in office visited the Grand Master of the Order while Foreign Ministers of various Panamanian Governments in the last 20 years have on several occasions met with the Grand Chancellor and Grand Hospitaller of the Order.
In turn, various Delegations of the Order of Malta have travelled to Panama. The State Visit of the Grand Master and Members of the Order of Malta’s Government in 2016 was one of such relevant moments of exchange and discussion.
Moreover, in 2016 Panama was the selected venue for a strategic regional gathering of all the members of the Order of Malta from the Middle America and Caribbean area.