US deploys forces to Panama Canal: Week-long PANAMAX-Alpha exercise begins; defense secretary warns of China's 'maligned influence'
The exercise, scheduled from July 13 to 18, 2025, aims to enhance strategic preparedness near the Panama Canal against "threats to the security of the Panama Canal and other strategic infrastructure," according to Panama's National Aeronaval Service.
The military exercise is being operated by Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-B) of the US Southern Command, with personnel from Panama's National Aeronaval Service, National Police, and National Border Service participating.
PANAMAX-Alpha Phase I follows PANAMAX-Alpha Phase 0, which was held in April 2025 involving the United States and Panama, conducted by JTF-Bravo and supported by the US Southern Command.
JTF-Bravo UH-60 Blackhawk out of Soto Can Air Base, Honduras (Pic credit: @JTF_Bravo/X)
In April, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced an expanded security partnership between the United States and Panama to reinforce protection of the Panama Canal from "China's maligned influence" in the region.
The announcement was made during a three-day security conference in Panama City, where Hegseth said, "The Panama Canal is key terrain that must be secured by Panama, with America, and not China," according to the US Department of Defense.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
For the chosen ones! 4&5 Bed Condominiums at Financial District, Hyd
Sumadhura Group
Learn More
Undo
He added that "[China's] growing and adversarial control of strategic land and critical infrastructure in this hemisphere cannot and will not stand."
PANAMAX-Alpha Phase I involves the deployment of two UH-60 Black Hawks and one CH-47 Chinook helicopter, along with boarding and disembarking operations, fast rope insertion, rescue crane extraction, and communication exercises on maritime platforms.
The US Southern Command shared images of simulated Panama Canal security operations on X (formerly Twitter).
These drills are being conducted at the Teniente Octavio Rodríguez Garrido Air Base (Panama Pacific), Almirante Cristóbal Colón Naval Air Base (Colón), and Salvador Córdoba Major Air Base (Darién).
The Panama Canal serves as a key maritime route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The waterway was built by the US beginning in 1904 and has been under Panama's control since 1999.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
Outrage in Karnataka after Goa chief minister says Centre won't approve Mahadayi project
Bengaluru: The state govt has taken strong objection to Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant's remarks in the Goa legislative assembly Tuesday, claiming Union minister for environment and forests, Bhupendra Yadav, had assured him that the Centre will not approve Karnataka's Mahadayi project. Law and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil Wednesday said Sawant's remark has shocked Karnataka and demanded that the Centre immediately grant approval for the project, considering interests of people in the region and farmers of North Karnataka. Enumerating the sequence of events, Patil said the Mahadayi water dispute tribunal delivered a final verdict, which was published in the central govt's gazette. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Karnataka had requested to divert 7.6tmc feet of water from the Kalasa-Banduri project to the Malaprabha basin, but the tribunal, while approving the inter-basin diversion, allocated only 3.9tmc feet. Karnataka then submitted a proposal to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for clearance to implement the project. Goa objected, claiming that 10.6 hectares of forest land falls within the Kali and Sahyadri tiger reserve areas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo But on Jan 23, 2024, NTCA recommended use of this forest area. "But the National Wildlife Board has been delaying taking a decision on the recommendation. The Supreme Court has not issued any order to halt Karnataka's Mahadayi project," said Patil. He also said the Central Water Commission approved the revised detailed project report for the Kalasa and Banduri projects on Dec 29, 2022. The Supreme Court also dismissed Goa's interim application against Karnataka's Kalasa project, rejecting Goa's plea for an injunction on April 19, 2023. "Despite no judicial hindrances, Karnataka faces unnecessary obstacles in implementing legitimate, legal, and constitutionally protected projects, which is unjust in a federal system," said Patil. He said the central govt's delay in granting the necessary approvals for these legally settled projects under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act is causing public outrage.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
No arrests made, Odisha AG tells HC on ‘illegal detention'
Kolkata: Odisha govt on Wednesday told Calcutta HC, which was hearing two habeas corpus pleas on two Bengali-speaking migrants detained on suspicion of being Bangladeshi, that it was "not arrest, but background checks being done". Odisha sought four weeks to file detailed report. The two migrants have now returned but demand compensation from the neighbouring state's govt for the "illegal detentions". Kalyan Banerjee, representing Bengal govt, submitted that the two persons were detained on June 30 during an identity verification drive and released on July 4, immediately after orders were passed by the HC seeking information on them. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Odisha advocate general Pitambar Acharya said: "There has been no arrest. Law engrafted in the Foreigners Act 1946 authorises the civil authority to do certain things in terms of suspected persons whose citizenship is in doubt. A number of immigrants from various parts of the country were found, and the ground of suspicion was strictly in conformity with section 3 of the Foreigners Act." He added: "It was a lawful verification of the documents. It's a frivolous petition. I will file a detailed affidavit in four weeks." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa Prices in Dubai Might Be Lower Than You Think! Villa for sale in Dubai | Search Ads Learn More Undo Banerjee pointed out that 400 Bengalis were detained in Odisha, saying: "Only in the case of Bengali, you will say they are foreigners." Acharya responded: "I request you to not create such confusion. Bengalis are our neighbours; they are our brothers and sisters. Most Odiya people are very fond of Bengalis. We incidentally have a Bengali CJ now. We are not opposing you." "Please come to Puri, Mr Banerjee, I am inviting you. See how many Bengalis are there," he added. Banerjee wanted a figure from Odisha govt on the number of Bengalis detained, but Acharya stressed that the habeas corpus matter pertained to only certain people who had approached the court. "It's not a question of Odisha govt and Bengal govt... Let's not fight on small issues," the Odisha AG said, to which Banerjee replied: "These are very big issues, Mr AG. It has become a national issue." The division bench of justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Reetobroto Kumar Mitra directed the Odisha AG to file a detailed affidavit by Aug 20 and a reply in opposition by Aug 27. The matter will be heard again on Aug 29.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
12 trapped in Dhanbad mine after cave-in, say locals, MP
Incident site in Dhanbad DHANBAD/RANCHI: At least 12 miners are feared trapped in a caved-in illegal coal mine in Jamunia, around 40 km from Dhanbad district headquarters, with some feared dead, villagers and politicians said Wednesday. Police, administration and Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, however, said that so far they had not found any sign of mine collapse. The alleged incident snowballed into political brick-batting as both the governing and opposition parties attacked each other over the illegal mining menace in the coal belt, and in the state at large. "Twelve labourers are trapped while some others who managed to escape are undergoing treatment in private hospitals. Families of the trapped workers are being offered Rs 10 lakh as compensation. This is a racket where labourers are brought from other districts and used for illegal mining. After the mishap, the entry point was filled with mud to conceal the incident," Giridih MP Chandra Prakash Chaudhary claimed. On the other hand, Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy on Tuesday wrote on X, "At a place called Jamunia in Baghmara, Dhanbad, a tunnel used for illegal mining collapsed, resulting in the death of nine workers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cat Keeps Hugging Friend Before Going To The Vet – The Vet Paled When He Saw Them Tips and Tricks Undo The illegal mining mafia is engaged in disposing of the bodies of the deceased. I have informed #SSP#Dhanbad about this." Talking to media, he held the local administration accountable. Dhanbad deputy commissioner Aditya Ranjan told PTI, "We have rushed an NDRF team to the spot suggested but so far no sign of any such incident has been found." Dhanbad SSP Prabhat Kumar said that he had directed SDPO Baghmara to conduct a probe. Kumar, too, told PTI that "no trace of any such incident was found". He added: "Additionally, no one from any side, including family members, turned up. So far, no formal complaint has been lodged from any side." Regional nodal security officer of Bharat Coking's block-2 project, Rajiv Ranjan, also said there was no information of any such incident in the block-2 project's closed underground mine. Health, food & civil supplies and disaster management minister and Congress MLA Irfan Ansari, meanwhile, accused Bharat Coking of patronising illegal mining and demanded appropriate compensation. The state Congress attacked the Centre. "Security of mines is entirely managed by institutions like CCL and BCCL through CISF, which is directly under the Centre," said spokesperson Sonal Shanti. BJP hit back demanding a CBI probe. "It's state-sponsored deaths. The state govt and local administration are aware of illegal mining but choose to remain mum," said spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo.
