Panama hosts Panamax 2026 multinational drill with Argentine forces participation

Panama will conduct the Panamax 2026 multinational military exercise, organized by the United States, from 27 July to 15 August. The drill aims to strengthen regional security, protect the Panama Canal, and improve interoperability among participating forces.

Argentina has authorized the deployment of 56 personnel from its navy, army and air force, after a decree signed by President Javier Milei. Argentine troops will join a coalition that includes the United States, Panama and a dozen other Latin American countries—Brazil, Belize, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru. Panama’s public security minister highlighted the exercise’s five‑phase planning, covering maritime, aerial and cyber operations, and stressed cooperation with U.S. instructors from the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC). The event is presented as a commitment to regional stability and the protection of critical infrastructure.