FA PANAMAX 2009 Concludes Successfully

By FA PANAMAX Public Affairs

PANAMA CITY, Panama (Sept. 22, 2009) – More than 4,500 personnel from 20 countries completed a 12-day exercise here Tuesday, after training in a joint, multinational effort to ensure the security of the Panama Canal.

U.S. and Panamanian officials held a formal closing ceremony Friday for Fuerzas Aliadas (Allied Forces) PANAMAX 2009, co-sponsored by U.S. Southern Command and the Government of Panama, in Panama City, Panama.

Representatives from each of the 20 participating nations attended the closing ceremony.

General Douglas Fraser (USAF), Commander, United States Southern Command, congratulated participants “for coming together to form such a formidable coalition defense team.”

FA PANAMAX 2009 is one of the largest multinational training exercises in the world, and took place in the waters off the coasts of Panama, and at several remote sites throughout the region from Sept. 11-22 with the participation of civil and military forces.

More than 20 vessels and a dozen aircraft were involved in the exercise, first held in 2003 with three partner nations. Participants focused on 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. Partner nation ground forces also participated from Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.

Pointing out the vital importance of the Panama Canal, General Fraser said that “with more than 239 million tons of cargo passing through the Panama Canal, the nations participating in PANAMAX recognize the importance of the canal and the need to ensure it is protected if threatened in any way.”

The multinational forces protecting the canal approaches were be organized under Multi-National Force-South and commanded by U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Keith M. Huber, commander of U.S. Army South.

The FA PANAMAX 2009 exercise scenario included sea-based training devoted to maritime interdiction operations, including visit, boarding, search and seizure. Virtual land-based training in San Antonio, Texas, focused on command and control, stability operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief operations.

FA PANAMAX 2009 participating nations include: Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United States and Uruguay. France and Mexico participated as observers. The Conference of Central American Armies, the Organization of American States and the United Nations also participated.

PANAMAX 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.

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