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.
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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.
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