Panama hosts Panamax 2026 exercises amid new U.S. anti-cartel command
The Panamanian territory is currently hosting Panamax 2026, a major multinational defense and security exercise involving approximately 1,700 elite soldiers from up to 21 nations. The drills aim to safeguard the Panama Canal, which facilitates 3% to 5% of global trade, and to strengthen regional interoperability. Recent exercises included a simulated naval assault by special forces from Argentina, the U.S., Panama, and Peru to prevent a terrorist attack on a vessel within the canal's waters.
Parallel to these exercises, the U.S. Southern Command has announced the activation of the Joint Task Force–Western Hemisphere (JTF-WH). This permanent military command, led by Major General Kevin Jarrard, replaces the temporary Joint Task Force Southern Spear. The JTF-WH is designed to coordinate intelligence, maritime interdiction, and operations against transnational drug cartels and criminal organizations across the Americas. This new command will work alongside the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, a group of 18 participating nations, to apply sustained pressure on criminal networks and provide humanitarian assistance during disasters.
Entities: Argentina · Cristian Escala · Francis Donovan · Kevin Jarrard · Panama Canal · Panamax 2026 · U.S. Southern Command · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Major General Kevin Jarrard will head the new Joint Task Force–Western Hemisphere. (Major General Kevin Jarrard will lead the new Joint Task Force–Western Hemisphere.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Special forces from Argentina, the U.S., Panama, and Peru conducted a naval assault simulation targeting a vessel to prevent a terrorist attack on the Panama Canal. (Special forces from Argentina, the U.S., Panama, and Peru conducted a naval assault simulation to prevent a terrorist-m导)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The U.S. is the primary user of the Panama Canal, accounting for more than 70% of the cargo passing through it. (The U.S. is the primary user of the Panama Canal, with over 70% of transit cargo destined for or coming from the U.S.)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Between 3% and 5% of global trade passes through the Panama Canal. (The Panama Canal facilitates between 3% and 5% of global trade.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The JTF-WH will work in coordination with the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, an alliance of 18 countries. (The JTF-WH will work with the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, consisting of 18 nations.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Panamax 2026 is a multinational training exercise organized by Panama and sponsored by the U.S. Southern Command. (Panamax 2026 is a multinational exercise organized by Panama and sponsored by the U.S. Southern Command.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The exercise involves approximately 1,700 elite soldiers from 19 to 21 participating nations. (The exercise involves approximately 1,700 elite soldiers from 19 to 21 participating nations.)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The U.S. Southern Command activated the Joint Task Force–Western Hemisphere (JTF-WH), a permanent military command to coordinate operations against drug cartels. (The U.S. Southern Command has activated the Joint Task Force–Western Hemisphere (JTF-WH) as a permanent military command)