VERA CRUZ, Panama – Multinational defense and security forces have ramped up operations in Panama and are fully integrated and training together at PANAMAX 2026. With a primary focus on safeguarding the Panama Canal, PANAMAX includes 19 partner nations exercising their collective capacity to maintain security and stability in the region while protecting the Western Hemisphere.
The nerve center of PANAMAX 2026 lies at the Exercise Control Group, where a small multinational operational command cell maps out, monitors, and directs exercise operations with light speed and pinpoint precision.
Army Lt. Col. Innis E. Bryant, Sr. is one of leaders at the Exercise Control Group in Panama. Back at U.S. Southern Command headquarters in Doral, Florida, Bryant is the Chief of Joint Exercises at SOUTHCOM’s J7/9 Training and Exercises Division. He said the training scenarios at PANAMAX are really starting to click.
“Working with our partner nations is about building interoperability, countering challenges, and defeating threats that impact security in our region. It’s a burden we share,” Bryant said. “By working together as like-minded partners who are wholly committed to freedom of navigation, we demonstrate our united resolve to detect, disrupt, and defeat existing and emerging threats to vital infrastructure and lines of communication in our hemisphere – our shared home.”
In the first two days of the 11-day multinational defense and security exercise much has been accomplished. The U.S. Coast Guard provided a tour of the USCG cutter Robert Ward to a group of Ecuadorian Navy and Panamanian Aeronaval security force members. In return, Ecuador provided a tour of its Esmeraldas-class missile corvette B.A.E. Loja vessel to U.S. Coast Guard and Columbian Navy members.
The Missouri National Guard, who are state partners with Panama, conducted an informational and team-building exchange with the host nation of Panama and multiple training partners at Base del Comando General en Summit, Panama, while the U.S. Marines conducted swim training with exercise partners in Arraijan, Panama, and Ecuadorian marines met with Dominican Republic marines in Arraijan to discuss all-domain operations.
Ecuadorian marines trained in the operations of a U.S. Coast Guard small boat, and U.S. Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, conducted raid training and discussed tactics in Colón, Panama, with multiple training partners including members of the Panamanian National Aeronaval Service.
The U.S. Coast Guard also briefed multiple training partners participating in PANAMAX 2026 on small boat maneuvering procedures before conducting combined on-water training at Panama City, Panama. Their briefing covered personnel transfers, coming alongside procedures, and man overboard recovery drills to enhance operational proficiency, strengthen interoperability, and improve regional readiness among participants.
As training continues, PANAMAX 2026 seeks to improve interoperability and strengthen collective capacity to conduct complex multinational and all-domain operations to ensure the free flow of commerce through the Panama Canal and maintain security and stability in the region.
For updated information on PANAMAX 2026, visit the PANAMAX 2026 DVIDS page at www.dvidshub.net/feature/Panamax26 and the U.S. Southern Command website at www.southcom.mil.