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Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
US deploys forces to Panama Canal: Week-long PANAMAX-Alpha exercise begins; defense secretary warns of China's 'maligned influence'
The United States and Panama have launched PANAMAX-Alpha Phase I, a week-long joint military training operation focused on regional security and emergency preparedness for the Panama Canal. 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.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Military Trains To Defend Panama Canal From China Threat
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States has trained for the defense of the Panama Canal during a joint exercise with the Central American country amid concerns over China's growing presence in the region. The exercise, code-named PANAMAX-Alpha Phase I and scheduled from July 13 to 18, was designed to "reinforce preparation for threats to the security of the Panama Canal and other strategic infrastructure," according to the National Aeronaval Service of Panama. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Foreign Ministry for comment via email. Why It Matters U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth previously warned of China's expanding military and economic presence and influence in the Western Hemisphere—a region long viewed as the U.S.'s backyard, which includes Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The Pentagon chief's warning follows U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that China "operates" the Panama Canal, a waterway vital to global trade. The canal, which the U.S. built, connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and has been under Panama's control since 1999. Facing pressure from the Trump administration, Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison agreed in March to sell its stake in Panama's ports at the canal's Pacific and Atlantic entrances to an American-led consortium. Trump later declared victory over the $23 billion acquisition. What To Know The Joint Task Force-Bravo of the U.S. Southern Command deployed three helicopters—two UH-60 Black Hawk and one CH-47 Chinook aircraft—for the exercise, which took place at three air bases in Panama, according to the National Aeronaval Service of Panama. Panamanian soldiers sitting in a United States CH-47 Chinook helicopter during PANAMAX-Alpha Phase I at Panama Pacifico International Airport on July 14. Panamanian soldiers sitting in a United States CH-47 Chinook helicopter during PANAMAX-Alpha Phase I at Panama Pacifico International Airport on July 14. Staff Sgt. Sadie Colbert/U.S. Air Force The exercise included boarding and disembarkation operations, fast-rope insertion, rescue crane extraction, and maritime platform communication—all carried out with "full respect for national sovereignty," Panama's National Aeronaval Service said in a statement. In a set of photos released on Monday, Panamanian soldiers were seen riding in a CH-47 helicopter during the exercise. Joint Task Force-Bravo said the drill was designed to enhance the countries' ability to conduct multinational operations, "particularly to defend the Panama Canal." The Southern Command is one of the Pentagon's combatant commands, responsible for "providing contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation" within its area of responsibility—a region that includes Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The Joint Task Force-Bravo was established to enhance security in Central America and to defend the U.S. homeland and national interests. The unit has been conducting missions for more than 40 years, making it the longest-standing joint task force in the U.S. military. Meanwhile, U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 25th Infantry Division arrived in Panama to advance joint security efforts between the two nations, including site surveys for potential future training locations, the U.S. Southern Command said in a news release on Wednesday. What People Are Saying The Joint Task Force-Bravo of the U.S. Southern Command said in a photo caption on Monday: "By working with partner nations and leadership regionally, the U.S. creates unity of effort in addressing shared challenges such as transboundary and transregional criminality and region security." U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced at the 2025 Central American Security Conference in April: "We're also expanding training—military training, increased military education and exchanges, and conducting more robust joint exercises. We're going to increase cooperation to deter threats, to seize opportunities to bolster our shared defense." What Happens Next It remains to be seen how the U.S. military will further expand its presence across Central and South America. A U.S. naval hospital ship, USNS Comfort, has been conducting a medical mission known as Continuing Promise 2025 in the region since May 30.
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First Post
14-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
US conducts military drills at Panama Canal amid tensions over China's influence on key trade route
To kick off the drills, three US Army helicopters arrived in Panama on Sunday – two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and a CH-47 Chinook – landing at the Panama-Pacific Airport, formerly the US Howard base read more A cargo ship traverses the Agua Clara Locks of the Panama Canal in Colon, Panama, September 2, 2024. File Image/AP The United States military teamed with Panamanian police to conduct a series of new exercises aimed at protecting the Panama Canal, amid tensions over alleged Chinese influence along the prized trade route. To kick off the drills, three US Army helicopters arrived in Panama on Sunday – two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and a CH-47 Chinook – landing at the Panama-Pacific Airport, formerly the US Howard base. Michael Palacios, subcommissioner of Panama's National Aeronaval Service – known as SENAN – said the exercises would prepare Panama's forces, as well as countries in the region, against any threats to the security and defense of the canal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US soldiers conducted similar exercises in Panama a month ago, under a bilateral agreement that allows Washington to use Panamanian air and naval bases for training without establishing its own bases. The agreement sparked protests in the Central American country, and came amid pressure from US President Donald Trump, who threatened to reclaim the canal. He has repeatedly claimed that China has too much influence over the canal, which handles about 40 percent of US container traffic and five percent of world trade. In April, Trump called for the free transit of American commercial and military ships through the inter-oceanic route, claiming the canal would 'not exist' without the US. But Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino said the toll fees are regulated by the Panama Canal Authority, an autonomous governing body overseeing the trade route. US presence in Panama remains a sensitive issue, as it evokes a time when Washington had an enclave of military bases in the country before the canal was handed over to Panamanians on the last day of 1999. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD SENAN officials said the US maneuvers will last until Friday and will respect 'national sovereignty.' Palacios said the exercise has been held for 23 years.
India Today
10-07-2025
- Science
- India Today
Europe conducts critical drop tests on reusable spacecraft
The European Space Agency's reusable spacecraft Space Rider has successfully completed a crucial series of drop tests, bringing it closer to becoming Europe's versatile orbital laboratory for a wide range of the size of two minivans, Space Rider is designed to stay in low Earth orbit for up to three months, enabling scientific research, in-orbit manufacturing, and visits to orbital platforms before returning safely to recent drop-test campaign took place at the Salto di Quirra testing range in Sardinia, Italy, where models of Space Rider's reentry module were released from an Italian Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter at altitudes between 1 and 2.5 kilometers. These tests focused on two critical systems: the parachutes that slow the spacecraft during descent and the flight-control software that autonomously guides Space Rider to a precise landing Space Rider reenters Earth's atmosphere, it faces extreme conditions—traveling over six times the speed of sound and enduring temperatures exceeding ensure a safe landing, a sequence of parachutes deploys: first a drogue chute just below the speed of sound for initial braking, followed by a pilot chute that pulls out a large parafoil at around 5 km altitude. This parafoil then steers the spacecraft to a targeted landing with remarkable tests confirmed the parachutes' reliable deployment and speed reduction capabilities, as well as the effectiveness of the autonomous guidance test model, equipped with sensors and control avionics, descended without any ground intervention, landing within 150 meters of the target—a world-first achievement for precision landing under parafoil. pace Rider represents a major step forward for reusable European spaceflight. (Photo: ESA) This campaign was led by Thales Alenia Space Italia, with support from industrial partners and the Italian Defence sector, which provided essential logistics and access to the test ahead, Space Rider will undergo further full-system drop tests, including simulations of worst-case landing scenarios to ensure payload safety. The spacecraft is designed for quick turnaround, undergoing six months of maintenance before returning to orbit for subsequent Rider represents a major step forward for reusable European spaceflight, promising to advance research in pharmaceuticals, biomedicine, materials science, and space technology while offering routine, affordable access to and return from orbit.- Ends
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. Army is planning a parade for its anniversary — and Trump's birthday
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump might finally get his parade. The U.S. Army is planning a big celebration to recognize not only the 250th anniversary of its founding, but also President Trump's 79th birthday, both of which fall on June 14. That celebration will potentially bring tanks and hundreds of other military vehicles and aircraft onto and over the streets of the nation's capital in June, according to three defense officials familiar with the planning. During Trump's first term, the president sought to have a big military parade, but the plans were shelved over cost and concerns that some of the military vehicles, particularly tracked vehicles like tanks, could significantly damage the streets of Washington, D.C. and incur a huge price tag for repairs. The estimate for the parade being planned now is 'tens of millions of dollars,' according to two of the defense officials. Trump didn't forget and now is considering a military parade to honor both birthdays. Current plans call for more than 150 military vehicles and 50 aircraft to rumble through a parade route through Washington on June 10, the three defense officials said. That could include Army wheeled vehicles, like Humvees and trucks, and so-called tracked vehicles, like tanks, two of the officials said. The aircraft will include CH-47 Chinook helicopters and UH 60 Black Hawk helicopters, two of the officials said. And the famed Golden Knights are expected to jump from above, land near the viewing stands, and deliver a flag to the VIPs, most likely Trump, two of the officials said. The Army is celebrating its 250th birthday with a number of events, including a fireworks display, a festival and a parade, Army spokesman Steve Warren said in a statement. "Parade planning is actively underway, and we anticipate approximately 150 vehicles, 50 aircraft, and 6,600 Soldiers to highlight the Army's 250 years of service to the nation," Warren said. The plan for the tanks is not yet final. One option under consideration is to put the tanks on trailers, which would mitigate some of the damage to the streets, but that could also impact the aesthetics of the parade, officials said. They also plan to have a separate staging area for the heavy vehicles so they do not have to cross any of D.C.'s bridges, two of the officials said. The vehicles would roll down the streets of Washington in columns, the officials said, in a way that some critics of the planned parade in his first term compared to what is more typically seen in places like North Korea and Russia. For now, the plan is to have Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Stryker Armored Fighting Vehicles, the Army's new Infantry Squad Vehicles and more, the officials said. All the Army vehicles would be drawn from the Army's 10 divisions, brought in mostly via train from bases like Fort Bliss, Texas to Fort Drum, New York. Each division will dedicate between 200 and 400 people to the parade, the officials said. Under the current plan, some of the troops would sleep in government buildings, including the Department of Agriculture and U.S. General Services Administration buildings, according to two of the defense officials. Asked about the parade last month, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed that planning was in the early stages and that the Trump administration had reached out about it, but said she had not been directly involved yet. The parade theme will include U.S. wars throughout the Army's history and include soldiers marching in period uniforms, the officials explained. The plans are still evolving but the current early estimate is the parade and static displays in D.C. will cost as much as $45 million, according to two of the defense officials, who said that could change as planning continues. The final estimates from inside the Army are not yet complete as plans for the parade have not yet been fully approved by the White House and the Army, two of the officials said. Individual Army units will bear the ultimate cost of the parade, three of the officials said. In some cases, units would have to spend more than $1 million to participate. That could impact funds used for training, officials said. 'Could the parade potentially impact training? Absolutely,' said one of the defense officials. 'Will it impact training? That's unclear.' This article was originally published on
