DistantNews
Support us
Panama and U.S. Enhance Jungle Warfare Skills in Joint Training
🇵🇦 Panama /Conflict & Security

Panama and U.S. Enhance Jungle Warfare Skills in Joint Training

From TVN Panamá · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Panama and the United States are strengthening military cooperation through the "Green Mile" jungle training course.
  • The training involves 128 Panamanian security personnel and U.S. Marines practicing jungle combat and survival tactics.
  • The exercises aim to enhance Panama's capacity to respond to emerging threats, particularly in protecting the Panama Canal.

Panama and the United States are deepening their military ties through a joint jungle warfare training exercise dubbed "Green Mile." The course, held at the Senan base in Sherman, Colón province, brings together 128 Panamanian public force members and U.S. Marines for intensive training in jungle combat and survival.

These maneuvers include a one-and-a-half-hour forced march with the students, integrated by United States marines and Panamanian security forces, who must complete a series of exercises in the jungle and demonstrate their capabilities.

— Luis de GraciaDescribing the demanding nature of the "Green Mile" training course.

The weekend exercises focus on equipping both Panamanian and U.S. personnel with advanced tactics and techniques for operating in dense jungle environments. Luis de Gracia, Director General of the National Aeronaval Service (Senan), stated that the program includes a demanding one-and-a-half-hour forced march, during which participants must complete various jungle exercises to demonstrate their capabilities.

The training is focused on phases of land navigation, riverine operations, beach takeovers, ground patrols, and medical emergency evacuations by air.

— InstructorsDetailing the specific skills and operations covered in the jungle training.

Instructors explained that the training covers critical areas such as land navigation, riverine operations, beach assaults, ground patrols, and emergency medical evacuations by air. The overarching goal is to bolster the operational readiness of Panama's security forces to confront contemporary threats, with a significant emphasis on safeguarding the vital Panama Canal.

The objective is to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Panamanian public force to respond to emerging threats, with special emphasis on the protection of the Panama Canal.

— Luis de GraciaExplaining the strategic purpose behind the joint military training.

De Gracia underscored the importance of preparing personnel to counter potential attacks or interventions from irregular forces or international organized crime. He noted the strategic significance of the Panama Canal, emphasizing the need for robust defense capabilities. These training maneuvers are part of the broader "Panama 2026" exercises, which involve approximately 1,700 police officers from around 20 countries and run from July 1 to August 31, reinforcing regional cooperation under Panamanian leadership.

We know that we have the main strategic item, which is the Panama Canal.

— AuthoritiesHighlighting the critical importance of the Panama Canal and the need for its security.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by TVN Panamá in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog