US and Brazil lead Panamax 2026 joint military drills in Panama

The United States and Brazil are participating in the Panamax 2026 joint military exercise alongside 17 other nations in the Panama Canal region. The drills began on 3 August and will run until 13 August, focusing on a coalition response to a simulated threat to the canal and surrounding areas.

Simultaneously, the U.S. Southern Command announced the formation of a new Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere, replacing the former Operation Southern Lance, to intensify efforts against drug‑trafficking cartels in Latin America. The task force, part of the "Shield of the Americas" coalition, aims to "apply systemic total pressure" and "eliminate all threats" to regional security. The initiative reflects President Donald Trump’s second‑term policy of expanding U.S. military presence and counter‑narcotics operations in the Western Hemisphere.