Today…military maneuvers between Panama and the United States begin to protect the canal
The Panamanian Ministry of Security announced that about 50 members of the US Navy and Panamanian security units would begin Joint military maneuvers today, Monday, continuing until February 26, with the aim of protecting the Panama.
The statement added that the joint training program aims to improve the ability to respond to operational scenarios.
The statement stated that the exercises, which begin on Monday, will involve 61 specialized naval and air units, the border police, and 50 US Marines.
On January 2, Panamanian President Jose Raul Molino announced the end of the crisis with the United States after US President Donald Trump threatened to regain control of The Canal, indicating that China controls it.
Combat drug trafficking
These maneuvers will take place while the United States deployed a fleet of warships in the Caribbean, saying that the move aims to combat drug trafficking, while Caracas said it aims to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, which is what actually happened.
The United States launched air strikes and a ground operation in Caracas, where it arrested Maduro and transferred to the United States to be tried on charges including "Drug-related terrorism".
Since September, American strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean have resulted in the deaths of at least 115 people, whom Washington said were drug smugglers.
In April 2025, the United States and Panama signed a cooperation agreement allowing the deployment of American forces around the canal, in a concession made to Washington as a result of pressure exerted by Trump.
This agreement allows the United States to use air and naval bases for training with Panama’s approval, and has a term of 3 renewable years. To renew.
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