As PANAMAX reaches mid-point, 19 nations flex collective ability to protect region

What's now being labeled as the most important multinational defense and security exercise in the Western Hemisphere, PANAMAX 2026 has officially reached mid-point, and all 19 participating nations are flexing their combined and collective ability to work together and protect vital interests in the region.

Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Ministerio de Seguridad Público and other Panamanian agencies and partners - exercise participants are demonstrating their commitment to maintaining and enforcing Panama Canal neutrality while safeguarding regional infrastructure and global commerce.

But PANAMAX goes beyond protecting the interoceanic waterway. It also serves as a tool to build security alliances in the Western Hemisphere and strengthen the ability of participating nations to conduct complex operations across multiple domains.

"The defense and security ties strengthened during PANAMAX 2026 will enhance the readiness of participating nations and their collective ability to achieve shared objectives and address multiple areas of mutual concern," said Anthony Pages, the lead PANAMAX planner at US Southern Command's J7/9 Training and Exercises Division.

In the first half of the 11-day multinational defense and security exercise, much has been accomplished. The US Coast Guard and multiple maritime partner nations conducted ship tours and participated in formation sails, vessel operations, and maritime drills and exercises. The Missouri National Guard, a partner of Panama, conducted team-building exchanges and a medical readiness training exercise in which they provided community support to the local population with dental examinations, medical checkups, and more. The Missouri Guardsmen are also trained in defensive cyber operations during the exercise.

US Marines and partner nation military and security forces conducted swim training, small boat operations, search and seizure training, actions on contact, and more. Some of the training highlights for the exercise's special operations personnel included simulated raids and waterborne assaults and combined special operations tactical training. PANAMAX partner nations also participated in military working dog drills, counter-small unmanned aerial systems training, air assault missions, and aeromedical evacuation drills, sharpening their combined contingency operations capabilities.

Improving interoperability and strengthening collective capacities remain top exercise objectives as participants charge into the second half of PANAMAX 2026, said Pages. Partner nations will continue to forge and strengthen bonds and expand their shared understanding of regional threats, bolstering their ability to rapidly and effectively coalesce in defense of vital regional infrastructure and pathways.

For updated information on PANAMAX 2026, visit the PANAMAX 2026 DVIDS page at www.dvidshub.net/feature/Panamax26 and the US Southern Command website at www.southcom.mil.