Breaking News: U.S. Army and Panama Police Launch Canal Defense Drills Amid China Influence Concerns.

According to information published by the Firstpost website on July 14, 2025, the United States military has launched a new phase of joint exercises with Panama’s police and security forces, focusing on the defense of the Panama Canal. This strategic initiative comes amid mounting concerns over China’s growing influence in Central America and the potential risks it poses to the vital waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The exercises began on July 13, 2025, with the arrival of two U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and a CH-47 Chinook at the Panama-Pacific Airport, a facility once operated as the U.S. Howard Air Force Base.
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Archive image: American and Panamanian security forces practice water steering and maneuvering beneath the Bridge of the Americas during Panamax 2008. The(Picture source: U.S. DoD)

The drills are being held under the framework of a longstanding bilateral security cooperation agreement that allows the United States to utilize Panamanian air and naval infrastructure for training purposes without establishing permanent military bases. According to Panama’s National Aeronaval Service (SENAN), these new joint operations are specifically designed to enhance the readiness of Panama’s security forces and bolster regional preparedness against asymmetric and state-level threats targeting the canal’s operational integrity. This includes scenarios involving sabotage, illegal trafficking, cyber intrusions, and influence operations by foreign powers.

These exercises follow a previous round of joint military activities conducted in June 2025, during which U.S. Army units coordinated closely with Panamanian air and naval elements in simulated interdiction operations and rapid deployment drills near the canal zone. That operation marked a renewed tempo in US military engagement in the region, aligned with Washington’s stated objective of reinforcing the security architecture across the Western Hemisphere.

U.S. President Joe Biden has repeatedly emphasized the importance of safeguarding critical global infrastructure and expanding defense collaboration with key regional partners. In recent addresses and defense briefings, the U.S. President Donald Trump underlined that the security of the Panama Canal is a matter of strategic interest not only for the United States but for global trade and regional stability. His administration has prioritized engagement with Latin American countries under the Defense Partnership for the Americas framework, which includes support for joint training, counter-narcotics operations, and infrastructure protection missions.

While no direct reference was made to China in official communications, U.S. defense officials continue to express unease over Beijing’s commercial and logistical footprint near the canal. China currently operates several port facilities in the vicinity and has been accused of using commercial fronts to extend political and economic leverage. The timing and nature of these joint exercises serve as both a deterrent and a reaffirmation of the United States’ commitment to its allies in the region.

The deployment of UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters by U.S. Army, renowned for their versatility in combat support and troop transport roles, highlights the operational seriousness of the drills. These platforms are suited for jungle terrain and maritime insertion, making them ideal for canal-area operations. The ongoing collaboration reinforces the U.S. resolve to maintain the canal’s neutrality and to counter any attempts to undermine Panama’s sovereignty or regional balance.