News

Strengthening Partnerships | Aug. 12, 2026

Hegseth Touts Americas Counter Cartel Coalition During Panama Visit

In Panama, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told members of the recently established Americas Counter Cartel Coalition that the U.S. is firmly committed to working alongside them to dismantle dangerous transnational criminal drug cartels. 

Training & Exercises | Aug. 8, 2026

As PANAMAX reaches mid-point, 19 nations flex collective ability to prot...

What's now being labeled as the most important multinational defense and security exercise in the Western Hemisphere, PANAMAX 2026 has officially reached mid-point, and all 19 participating nations are flexing their combined and collective ability to

Training & Exercises | Aug. 8, 2026

Joint Task Force-Bravo, Missouri National Guard and Panama’s Ministerio ...

Joint Task Force-Bravo collaborated with Panama’s Ministerio de Salud to host a Medical Readiness Training exercise from Aug. 4-7, at Escuela Altos de los Lagos in Colón, Panama, during the Panamanian-led multinational exercise, PANAMAX 2026.

Commander


U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Francis L. Donovan is the Commander of U.S. Southern Command. Gen. Donovan assumed command Feb. 5, 2026

GEN. DONOVAN'S BIO

Four Imperatives

SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan has developed four imperatives to posture the U.S. military to confront the threats facing the Western Hemisphere.

 

  1. Strengthen hemispheric command and control. 

  2. Impose total systemic friction on drug cartels and terrorist organizations. 

  3. Develop and field cost-effective, modernized forces tailored for the mission. 

  4. Deny adversary footholds and undue influence in the Western Hemisphere.

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Videos

Video by Sgt. Daniel Childs
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LCF-24: USS San Antonio Straddles the Caribbean Sea and Pacific in Panama
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
Aug. 1, 2026 | 4:02
San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio (LPD 17), transits through the Panama Canal, Aug. 1, 2026. U.S. military forces are deployed to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in support of Department of War-directed operations, and the President’s priorities.  (U.S. Marine Corps video) 
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