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The United States and 18 partner nations are taking part in PANAMAX 2026, a multinational military exercise focused on improving regional readiness, strengthening interoperability, and preparing participating forces to respond to simulated threats to the Panama Canal and wider security of the Western Hemisphere.

The exercise, sponsored by U.S. Southern Command, began in early August and is scheduled to continue through August 14, 2026. U.S. Airmen assigned to 12th Air Force, Air Forces Southern, are working alongside approximately 40 military personnel from partner countries across the Americas as part of the combined air component.

The exercise is being conducted in a multinational environment designed to test how participating forces coordinate planning, command and control, intelligence and decision-making during a simulated regional contingency.

Countries participating include Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, alongside the United States and Panama.

The exercise is being led by Air Forces Southern from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, where participating personnel are working on multinational air operations and coordination.

Focus on Canal Security

PANAMAX 2026 is centered on a simulated crisis involving threats to the Panama Canal and regional security. The scenario requires participating nations to coordinate their military responses and operate together as a coalition.

The exercise is intended to strengthen the ability of partner forces to conduct combined security and stability operations while improving their capacity to support Panama in protecting the canal.

Members of Guatemala's Special Interdiction and Rescue Unit (BEIR), the Kaibil Special Operations Unit, and U.S. Marine Raiders prepare for a beach-to-jungle assault during the Force Integration Training phase of PANAMAX 2026 in Colón Province, Panama, Aug. 2, 2026. The… pic.twitter.com/9cghV7Brso

— SOCSOUTH (@SOCSOUTH) August 7, 2026

The Panama Canal remains one of the world’s most strategically important waterways, linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and supporting international trade. Its security therefore has implications beyond Panama itself.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. David Mineau, commander of 12th Air Force, said the exercise provides an opportunity to improve coordination and readiness among regional partners.

“We are proud to host Panamax here at Davis-Monthan and to work alongside our partner nations as we train to protect one of the most strategically important waterways in the world,” Mineau said.

“This exercise helps us sharpen the coordination, trust and readiness needed to support Panama in the defense of the canal and preserve regional security,” he added.

The exercise also reflects a broader U.S. effort to strengthen military partnerships across the Western Hemisphere. By conducting multinational training before a real crisis occurs, participating forces can develop common procedures and establish relationships that could improve their ability to respond quickly during an actual emergency.

Intelligence and Air Operations

A major element of PANAMAX 2026 is the combined air component, where military personnel from different countries are working together on planning, intelligence, and operational decision-making.

For Ecuador, the exercise represents an important opportunity to expand its participation. Ecuadorian air force Lt. Col. Andres Acosta said this year’s exercise marked the first time Ecuador had brought air force intelligence personnel to PANAMAX.

“This opportunity was the first time Ecuador brought air force intelligence personnel, and the immense value of this training for our force and our partners is already clear,” Acosta said.

“Exchanging operational perspectives and discussing air doctrine face-to-face builds the mutual trust and understanding essential for our shared security,” he added.

The inclusion of intelligence personnel is significant because multinational operations require forces to exchange information rapidly and develop a common understanding of an evolving situation.

The exercise allows participating personnel to compare operational procedures, discuss air doctrine and improve coordination between national command structures.

Such exchanges are intended to reduce differences in procedures and communications that could slow down a multinational response during a real-world contingency. “Collaborating in a combined air component environment allows us to synchronize our procedures and learn from each other’s expertise,” Acosta said.

“This training ensures that if we are called upon to respond to a real-world contingency, we can operate seamlessly as one united team to preserve regional stability,” he added.

Panamax Alpha Builds Bilateral Readiness

The multinational exercise follows the conclusion of PANAMAX Alpha, a separate annual bilateral exercise between the United States and Panama that ended July 27. PANAMAX Alpha focused on improving U.S.-Panamanian interoperability, humanitarian assistance capabilities and operational coordination ahead of the larger multinational PANAMAX exercise.

Supported by U.S. Southern Command, the bilateral exercise brought together Panama’s National Air and Naval Service, known as SENAN, and personnel from Joint Task Force Bravo. The exercise combined humanitarian missions, technical exchanges and military training, allowing U.S. and Panamanian forces to prepare for the higher operational tempo associated with PANAMAX 2026.

U.S. Army Capt. Mac Michael, Joint Task Force Bravo’s lead PANAMAX planner, said the bilateral exercise was designed to prepare forces for the larger multinational event. “This year PANAMAX-Alpha focused on preparing forces for the higher tempo that will take place during the multinational exercise, PANAMAX, in August,” Michael said.

“With every mission and training scenario, we are building the muscle memory and tactical interoperability required for shared security challenges across the hemisphere,” he added.

Cooperación militar interamericana y seguridad del hemisferio. 🇺🇲 🇬🇹 🇵🇦

Brigada de Fuerzas Especiales y el Comando de Fuerza Especial Naval del #EjércitoGT se integran al contingente de Fuerzas Especiales Multinacionales que participan en el ejercicio multinacional PANAMAX 2026,… pic.twitter.com/itZOLBOWMr

— Ejército de Guatemala (@Ejercito_GT) August 6, 2026

Humanitarian Operations

PANAMAX Alpha also demonstrated how military cooperation between the United States and Panama can support civilian communities.

During three sling-load operations in July, U.S. Army aviation units and SENAN transported approximately 66,000 pounds of bridge construction materials to the community of Mayo in Panama’s Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca.

The cargo included steel cable spools, cement, and hollow blocks that will be used to construct a bridge over the Cricamola River. The planned bridge is expected to improve access to schools and essential services for residents, particularly in communities where difficult terrain can make transportation challenging.

The exercise also supported Panama’s efforts to improve access to clean water in remote areas. U.S. and Panamanian personnel transported six water tanks supplied by Panama’s Ministry of Health to remote communities in Donoso Province. The equipment is expected to benefit more than 4,000 residents.

U.S. Maj. Patrick Short, Joint Task Force Bravo’s civil-military operations commander, said the missions demonstrated the practical value of cooperation between the two countries.

“Delivering this vital support alongside our Panamanian partners proves our ability to unite and project strength in times of need,” Short said.

“The success of every single delivery speaks to like-minded partners working together to protect our communities through humanitarian cooperation, enabling regional peace through stability,” he added. The humanitarian missions also provided an opportunity for U.S. and Panamanian personnel to develop practical experience operating together in difficult environments.

Helicopter and Special Operations Training

PANAMAX Alpha included technical training focused on helicopter operations and sling-load procedures. Panamanian personnel trained alongside U.S. Army soldiers on rigging techniques, sling-load safety, and helicopter procedures before conducting a full mission rehearsal involving Panamanian ground crews and pilots.

The training was designed to ensure that both countries can conduct rapid airlift and resupply operations when required.

“Exchanging best practices with our Panamanian partners during these sling-load familiarization sessions ensures both our teams are capable of executing rapid-response missions at a moment’s notice,” said U.S. Army Capt. Alicia Handy, commander of the Army Forces Headquarters Support Company.

“We are stronger, safer, and more capable when we train together,” she added. The exercise also included bilateral air assault training involving U.S. Army aviation assets, U.S. Navy SEALs and Panamanian special operations forces.

Helicopters inserted and extracted combined teams during the training, allowing participants to practice coordination between aviation and ground elements. The training required U.S. and Panamanian forces to integrate different operating procedures into a single mission.

U.S. Army Capt. Cameron Whiteside, an exercise planner with the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, said the training demonstrated the importance of combining different military capabilities.

“From a planning perspective, synchronizing U.S. Navy SEALs, Panamanian ground forces, and JTF-Bravo aviation assets highlights the true value of our regional partnerships,” Whiteside said.

“We designed this aviation support package to push the boundaries of our joint, bilateral capabilities. This training exercise is more than just moving personnel; we are integrating different operating procedures into a single, seamless mission,” he added.

Building Regional Cooperation

Beyond individual training events, PANAMAX 2026 is intended to build professional relationships that can support future military cooperation throughout the Western Hemisphere.

The exercise allows participating forces to exchange best practices, improve communication procedures, and develop a shared understanding of multinational planning and execution.

For the United States, the exercise supports efforts by Air Forces Southern and U.S. Southern Command to strengthen partnerships with regional militaries and improve collective readiness.

The emphasis on interoperability is particularly important for multinational operations, where forces from different countries must coordinate despite differences in equipment, doctrine, command structures and operating procedures.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Nicholas Kalitka, commander of the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, said sustained cooperation provides the foundation for an effective regional response. “Regional stability is built on a foundation of trusted partnerships and shared commitment,” Kalitka said.

“PANAMAX Alpha has demonstrated that our enduring partnerships allow us to seamlessly coordinate humanitarian aid and protect vital infrastructure. This exercise improves the interoperability of participating nations, ensuring their collective readiness to respond to the challenges of the 21st century,” he added.

The two exercises therefore combine military preparedness with humanitarian cooperation, providing participating countries with experience ranging from air assault and aviation operations to disaster response and infrastructure support.

U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers led a small-unit tactics class with members of the Peruvian Navy’s Special Operations Force (FOE) and the Ecuadorian Marine Corps’ Grupo de Acción Rápida de la Infantería de Marina (GAHRIM) during the Force Integration Training phase of PANAMAX… pic.twitter.com/ERlXtjlatu

— SOCSOUTH (@SOCSOUTH) August 4, 2026

Strengthening Collective Readiness

PANAMAX has evolved into a major multinational exercise in the Western Hemisphere, with successive iterations designed to strengthen the ability of regional militaries to operate together.

PANAMAX 2026 builds on this approach by bringing personnel from 19 nations together to rehearse a coordinated response to a simulated threat involving the Panama Canal and regional security.

For the United States and its partners, the exercise provides an opportunity to identify weaknesses in multinational coordination before they become problems during a real crisis.

Mineau said the value of the exercise extends beyond the specific scenario being rehearsed. “Panamax is more than a multinational exercise; it is an opportunity to bring together talented professionals from across the hemisphere, learn from one another and strengthen the partnerships that underpin regional security,” Mineau said. “That cooperation is essential to ensuring we are ready to respond together to future challenges,” he added.

As PANAMAX 2026 continues through August 14, participating forces will continue to train in multinational planning, command and control, and decision-making.

The exercise demonstrates how the United States and its regional partners are seeking to improve their ability to respond collectively to security challenges while maintaining the capacity to support humanitarian operations and protect critical infrastructure.

The combination of military training, intelligence cooperation, aviation operations and humanitarian assistance reflects a broader regional approach in which readiness depends not only on individual national capabilities but also on the ability of partner forces to communicate, coordinate and operate together.