The United States military has launched a new round of joint exercises with Panamanian forces to strengthen the security of the Panama Canal, as concerns grow over China’s alleged influence on the vital trade route.
On Sunday, three US Army helicopters, two UH-60 Black Hawks and a CH-47 Chinook, landed at Panama-Pacific Airport, formerly the US Howard Air Force Base, to begin the exercises.
The drills, conducted in partnership with Panama’s National Aeronaval Service (SENAN), aim to enhance regional preparedness against potential threats to the canal’s security and operation.
“These exercises are intended to prepare Panama’s security forces and our regional allies for any scenario that could threaten the canal,” said SENAN Sub Commissioner Michael Palacios.
The training comes under a longstanding bilateral agreement that permits the US military to use Panamanian air and naval facilities for training purposes without establishing permanent bases.
However, the recent increase in activity has sparked protests in Panama, with critics pointing to growing US pressure under President Donald Trump, who has called for greater American control over canal access.
President Trump has claimed that China has gained undue influence over the Panama Canal and has urged for unrestricted passage of US commercial and military vessels. In April, he stated the canal “would not exist” without American involvement and hinted at the possibility of reasserting US authority in the region.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, however, reaffirmed that the Panama Canal Authority, an independent national body, governs all canal operations, including the setting of toll fees.
The US military’s historical presence in Panama remains a sensitive issue, especially since the formal handover of the canal to Panama on December 31, 1999, which ended nearly a century of American control.
SENAN officials emphasised that the current exercises, scheduled to run through Friday, would be conducted with full respect for Panama’s sovereignty.
Palacios noted that similar drills have been held for 23 consecutive years.