Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Leads Expanded U.S.–Panama Security Engagement

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Panama for a multi-day visit that included meetings with President José Raúl Mulino, senior Colombian officials, and U.S. service members. The itinerary featured remarks at the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition (A3C) Forum—also called the Shield of the Americas—a U.S.–led multinational effort launched in early March to coordinate regional security against transnational criminal organizations. Hegseth’s presence follows a 2025 visit in which he signed a memorandum of understanding on security cooperation and a joint declaration on Panama Canal security.

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The A3C, created to counter drug cartels operating across Central and South America, now operates alongside the newly formed Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM). Established earlier this month, JTF-WHEM is tasked with synchronizing U.S. military operations with the coalition’s 18 partner nations, enhancing rapid crisis response and sustained pressure on illicit networks.

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The gathering, hosted by Panama, began in early August and will conclude later in the week. Eighteen nations are taking part, including Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Jamaica. Hegseth also observed jungle-warfare training at the Jungle Operations Training Course and the PANAMAX 2026 exercise, a Southern Command-sponsored drill that simulates threats to the Panama Canal and surrounding region.

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Southcom Commander **Gen. Francis L.

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Hegseth reiterated the strategic priority of the canal, emphasizing that its security must be a joint effort between Panama and the United States, not a foothold for external powers.

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• “The era of capitulating to coercion by the communist Chinese is over.” — Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary“The era of capitulating to coercion by the communist Chinese is over,” — Hegseth

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