US-Panamanian military exercises to protect the canal: objectives and details
The Panamanian Ministry of Security announced in an official statement the start of joint military exercises on Monday, bringing together units from the US Navy and Panamanian security forces, in a strategic move aimed at strengthening the protection of the vital Panama Canal. These intensive drills are scheduled to continue until February 26, with the participation of approximately 50 US Marines alongside their Panamanian counterparts.
The statement explained that the training program focuses primarily on enhancing combat readiness and improving the ability to respond rapidly to complex operational scenarios that could threaten the canal's security. Sixty-one specialized units are participating in these maneuvers, including naval and air forces, as well as border police units, reflecting the high level of security coordination between the two countries at this critical juncture.
Background to the agreement and the American return
These exercises are the culmination of a cooperation agreement signed by the United States and Panama in April 2025, which allows for the deployment of US forces around the canal for a renewable three-year period. This agreement followed diplomatic tensions and pressure from the administration of US President Donald Trump, who had previously cited Washington's concerns about China's growing influence in the region, threatening to reassert control over the waterway to ensure US national security.
These moves carry profound historical significance, as the United States administered the canal and the surrounding area for decades before formally handing them over to Panama on December 31, 1999, under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. The return of US forces for training and the use of air and naval bases represents a qualitative shift in bilateral relations, recalling an era when the US military presence was a cornerstone of the region.
Regional context and drug control
These exercises coincide with major geopolitical shifts in the Caribbean and Latin America. The United States has bolstered its naval presence by deploying a fleet of warships, declaring its primary objective to be combating drug trafficking. Since last September, US operations have dealt significant blows to smuggling networks in the Pacific and Caribbean, resulting in the deaths of at least 115 individuals designated by Washington as traffickers.
In a related context, this military buildup was linked to the dramatic developments in Venezuela, where the United States launched air and ground operations that led to the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his subsequent trial in the United States on charges related to "narco-terrorism." Observers emphasize that protecting the Panama Canal at this time is not merely a matter of domestic security, but rather part of a comprehensive strategy to exert control and secure global trade and energy routes in the Western Hemisphere.
