United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)

(Completed)

FA PANAMAX 2009 was one of the largest multinational training exercises in the world, involving more than 30 vessels, a dozen aircraft and 4,500 personnel from 20 nations. The annual U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise series focuses on ensuring the defense of the Panama Canal, one of the most strategically and economically crucial infrastructure systems in the world.

Overview:

Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX 2009 focused on the defense of the Panama Canal and the Central American region by a multinational combined/joint task force. The exercise was conducted Sept. 11 – 22, 2009 and was the largest operational and foreign military integration exercise in the region. It was conducted to exercise a variety of responses to any request from the Government of Panama to protect and guarantee safe passage of traffic through the Panama Canal, ensure its neutrality, and respect national sovereignty.

Civil and military land, air and sea forces from 20 countries formed a Multi-National Force organized under a UN mandate and conducted training scenarios along the Panama Canal’s Caribbean and Pacific approaches.

The multinational forces protecting the canal approaches were organized under Multi-National Force-South and commanded by U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Keith M. Huber, commander of U.S. Army South. The exercise was conducted under the authority of U.S. Southern Command, in cooperation with the Government of Panama.

Training Involved:

FA PANAMAX 2009 was designed by a team of civilian and military planners from each of the participating nations to support a broad spectrum of objectives. This complex exercise was designed to:

§ Demonstrate command and control of a multi-national force in defense of the Panama Canal within a United Nations mandate

§ Promote interoperability that focuses on the security of the Panama Canal and build participating nation capability to function efficiently as part of a multinational force

§ Provide a venue for Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) endorsing countries to execute PSI

§ Introduce a Pandemic Influenza tabletop exercise

§ Exercise freedom of navigation and sea-lanes of communication with a multi-national force, and coordinates both air and land components of a joint task force

PANAMAX 2009 served as U.S. Army South’s Joint Task Force sustainment exercise and also served as U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command’s Maritime Operations Center pre-accreditation exercise.

Participating Nations:

The multi-national force included forces and integrated staff members from Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the United States, Uruguay, and in cooperation with the United Nations and Conference of Central American Armies.

Major U.S. Military Participants:

USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), USS Doyle (FFG 39), USCGC Mohawk (WMEC 913). Elements from U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army South, 12^th Air Force, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4^th Fleet, U.S. Marine Forces South and U.S. Special Operations Command South also took part.

History:

This major regional security exercise began in 2003 with three countries, Panama, Chile and the United States. Exercise participation has greatly expanded every year since. In 2004, nine nations took part; in 2005, 15 nations were involved; in 2006, 18 nations participated, in 2007, 19 nations took part and last year, 20 nations were a part of PANAMAX 2008.

This year’s PANAMAX introduced a Pandemic Influenza Table Top Exercise and transition authority to a Canadian led force according to UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 15030.

Click above to see photos

from PANAMAX '09 at defenseimagery.mil

Quick Links

U.S. Army Forces South

Air Forces Southern (12 AF)

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command

Background Notes: PANAMA

USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19)

USS Doyle (FFG 39)

USCGC Mohawk (WMEC 913)

Key Points

The Panama Canal is critical to the free flow of trade and goods in the region and the entire world. The region's economy and political stability largely depend on the safe transport of several hundred million tons of cargo through the Canal each year, and FA PANAMAX 2009 is designed to ensure plans are in place to respond to requests from the Government of Panama.

FA PANAMAX provides training to ensure civil, naval, air, and ground security forces can operate as an effective team, coordinating assets and sharing information to respond quickly to crises and protect the security of the region.

The increased participation in FA PANAMAX over the years underscores the importance that the international community places on cooperative efforts and strong partnerships as pillars of worldwide security and stability.

FA PANAMAX provides effective training to increase multinational force interoperability while supporting the training requirements of all participating nations’ civil and military services.