A contingent of 50 U.S. Marines is set to begin joint training with Panamanian security forces in Panama.
Panama’s National Aeronaval Service, known as SENAN, said in a Sunday statement shared with local outlets that the six-week program will run from Jan. 12, 2026, through Feb. 26, 2026. SENAN said 61 Panamanian law enforcement officials are expected to participate, and the work will be conducted “with strict respect for national sovereignty.”
SENAN said the sessions will be held at the Admiral Cristóbal Colón Naval Air Base on Panama’s Atlantic coast and at the Naval Base Commander Noel Antonio Rodríguez Justavino in Howard, Arraiján. Local outlets reported the Marines would begin the training on Monday.
Training Sites And Participating Security Forces
The Panamanian participants are expected to come from SENAN, Panama’s National Police, and the Senafront National Borders Service, Fox News reported. SENAN framed the activity as a continuation of long-standing cooperation with the United States.
“This training is carried out within the framework of the historic bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Panama and the United States of America, with the aim of strengthening the technical, tactical, and operational capabilities of the Panamanian state security forces,” SENAN said.
“The training activities are aimed at improving interoperability, professional preparedness, and response capabilities in operational scenarios,” SENAN said.
Sovereignty Language Meets Security Reality
The issue has sparked debate because foreign military training can raise questions in any country, especially one with a strategic waterway. SENAN’s emphasis on sovereignty is likely meant to preempt that concern and clarify the boundaries of the deployment.
“With strict respect for national sovereignty” is the right phrase, and it matters. It also reads like a reminder that, in the modern world, cooperation and independence aren’t opposites; they’re often the only way small countries can keep their footing amid bigger pressures.
SENAN’s statement sticks to capability-building: technical, tactical, and operational improvement, plus smoother coordination between units. That kind of practical language is a welcome change from the buzzword-heavy style that too often replaces real security planning.
PANAMAX Preparations Put Canal Security In Focus
The announcement comes as Panama’s Security Ministry prepares for a new edition of PANAMAX. PANAMAX is described as a biennial, multi-national command post exercise sponsored by U.S. Southern Command, or SOUTHCOM, aimed at reinforcing the long-term security of the Panama Canal.
On Thursday, Panamanian Security Minister Frank Abrego met with local military officials to coordinate details of the upcoming PANAMAX activities. SENAN tied the Marines’ training to that broader calendar of exercises and planning.
“Together with the PANAMAX exercises, they contribute to strengthening national security, protecting the Panama Canal, and safeguarding national interests,” SENAN said.
Recent U.S.-Panama Agreement Adds Context
For readers wondering why this cooperation is happening now, the groundwork was laid earlier through a formal agreement. In April 2025, during U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s visit to Panama, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding intended to enable increased bilateral activities.
According to the details provided, the memorandum was also meant to support mission needs at joint-use locations and support collaboration to enhance and strengthen Panama’s security capabilities. Those are dry phrases, but they have concrete implications: more training, more coordination, and clearer rules for how it happens.
At a joint press conference in April 2025 alongside Abrego, Hegseth said the United States was partnering with Panama in three areas: securing the border and stopping mass illegal migration, countering violent cartels and criminal enterprises, and securing the Panama Canal while countering China’s malign influence.
