Aug. 4, 2026

U.S. 4th Fleet Hosts Multinational Forces for PANAMAX 2026

MAYPORT, Fla. — U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet is hosting the Combined Force Maritime Component Command (CFMCC) portion of the annual exercise PANAMAX from Aug. 3-12. Exercise PANAMAX 2026 is a U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)-sponsored exercise that provides crucial training opportunities for partner nations to build the capability to plan and conduct complex multinational operations. PANAMAX enables allies and partner nations to advance the development and implementation of standard operating procedures for multinational operations. Under multiple scenarios involving both asymmetric and conventional threats, coalition forces will work together in support of shared regional interests.

Aug. 4, 2026

Panama hosts pre-sail conference opening ceremony at start of PANAMAX 2026 exercise

LACONA, Panama — Panama’s Servicio Nacional Aeronaval welcomed key leadership from the visiting partner nations of Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia and the United States on Aug. 3, 2026, who are participating in maritime operations in support of PANAMAX 2026, Aug. 3-13.

Aug. 2, 2026

24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and USS San Antonio Transit Panama Canal

PANAMA CANAL — On August 1, 2026, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) — operating as Littoral Combat Force-24 (LCF-24) — aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17), completed a transit through the Panama Canal while operating under United States Southern Command.

July 30, 2026

Joint Task Force-Bravo completes PANAMAX-Alpha

PANAMA CITY, Panama — Joint Task Force-Bravo concludes operations for their annual, bilateral exercise PANAMAX-Alpha in Panama on July 27, 2026. PANAMAX-Alpha, sponsored by U.S. Southern Command, serves as a critical training platform for U.S. and Panamanian forces.

July 15, 2026

U.S. Forces Continue Providing Disaster Relief Assistance in Venezuela

U.S. armed forces are continuing to provide disaster relief assistance to the people of Venezuela in the aftermath of two devastating June 24 earthquakes.

July 13, 2026

Coalition Space Operators Take Center Stage as SALITRE 2026 Breaks New Ground

CHILE — When Exercise SALITRE 2026 opened its execution week at Cerro Moreno Air Base on July 6, the largest multinational air exercise in South America featured something no combined exercise has attempted before: a commercial satellite performing a real, on-orbit evasive maneuver in response to a simulated adversary — flown live, watched by coalition space operators on three continents.

July 10, 2026

USS San Antonio Assumes Relief Mission in Venezuela

VENEZUELA — Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to ongoing disaster relief efforts, the amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio (LPD 17) arrived pierside in La Guaira on Thursday, July 9, 2026. The San Antonio seamlessly relieved the USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) as the primary maritime component center in support of the Department of State-led humanitarian assistance mission following the devastating June 24 earthquakes.

July 9, 2026

Saving lives in the battlefield: U.S., partner nations medical train together during Salitre 2026

ANTOFAGASTA, Chile — U.S., Chilean, Brazilian, Colombian and Paraguayan air forces medical professionals took life-saving training to the next level by treating numerous patients and conducting air evacuations during Exercise Saltire 2026. This is the fifth iteration of the Chilean-led multinational exercise and the first to incorporate a medical component. By training together before a real-world emergency, U.S. and partner air force medical teams strengthened the relationships, interoperability and combined readiness needed to rapidly deliver lifesaving care during future multinational operations.

July 3, 2026

621st Contingency Response Wing Responds to Accelerate Earthquake Disaster Relief in Venezuela

SIMÓN BOLÍVAR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Venezuela — A 110-Airman element from the 621st Contingency Response Wing deployed to Simón Bolívar International Airport in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026. U.S. military forces have mobilized to support a Department of State-led disaster assistance mission to deliver critical relief to the region.

July 2, 2026

U.S. Navy Ships Support Disaster Relief Operations in Venezuela

La Guaira, Venezuela — The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) and Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) have arrived in the region to provide rapid, life-saving humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.