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Defense Secretary Hegseth Addresses Panama Counter-Cartel Coalition Forum

8/12/2026

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Panama, met President José Raúl Mulino, and will address the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C) Forum, an effort to counter drug cartels.
The A3C gathering began on Aug. 3 with 18 partners and will conclude Thursday.
Southcom created Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere this month to sync operations with A3C partners, sending Gen. Francis L. Donovan aboard USS Gridley on his first Panama visit.

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Story summary

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Panama, met President José Raúl Mulino, and will address the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C) Forum, an effort to counter drug cartels.
The A3C gathering began on Aug. 3 with 18 partners and will conclude Thursday.
Southcom created Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere this month to sync operations with A3C partners, sending Gen. Francis L. Donovan aboard USS Gridley on his first Panama visit.