The deployment underscores expanding U.S.–Panama security cooperation as both countries prepare for major canal defense exercises.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A contingent of 50 U.S. Marines is set to begin a six-week joint training mission with Panamanian security forces on Monday, deepening bilateral military cooperation amid preparations to reinforce security around the Panama Canal, according to local reporting.
In a statement released Sunday by Panama’s National Aeronaval Service (SENAN), officials said the training will run from January 12 through February 26, 2026. The program will involve 61 Panamanian personnel drawn from SENAN, the National Police, and the Senafront National Border Service, who will train alongside the U.S. Marines.
Exercises will be conducted at two military installations: the Admiral Cristóbal Colón Naval Air Base on Panama’s Atlantic coast and the Naval Base Commander Noel Antonio Rodríguez Justavino in Howard, Arraiján. SENAN emphasized that the activities will be carried out with “strict respect for national sovereignty.”
According to the statement, the mission falls within the framework of long-standing U.S.–Panama cooperation and is intended to strengthen the technical, tactical, and operational capabilities of Panama’s security forces. Officials said the training is designed to enhance interoperability, professional readiness, and coordinated responses in a range of operational scenarios.
The deployment comes as Panama’s Security Ministry prepares for the next iteration of PANAMAX, a biennial multinational command-post exercise sponsored by U.S. Southern Command focused on protecting the Panama Canal. Panamanian Security Minister Frank Abrego met with military officials last week to coordinate planning for the upcoming PANAMAX activities, which SENAN said are critical to safeguarding national interests and canal operations.
The joint training also builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2025 during a visit to Panama by U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The agreement expanded the scope of bilateral military engagement, allowing increased cooperation at joint-use locations and supporting broader efforts to enhance Panama’s security capabilities.
During that visit, Hegseth outlined three core areas of partnership: securing Panama’s borders and curbing illegal migration, countering violent cartels and transnational criminal networks, and protecting the Panama Canal while addressing what he described as China’s growing influence in the region.
China’s government later pushed back against those remarks, accusing Hegseth of “maliciously attacking” Beijing and undermining China’s relationship with Panama. Despite the diplomatic friction, Panamanian officials reiterated that the current training mission is focused on professional development, regional security, and long-term cooperation between the two countries.
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