Three US Army helicopters arrived in Panama on Sunday to begin the drill. Two UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters and CH-47 Chinook – previously reported by the South China Morning Post at Howard Base in the US.
Michael Palacios, a subcommittee of Panama’s National Aeronaval Services (Senan), said that in opposition to the threats to the safety and defense of the canal, he would prepare not only the country in the region, but Panama’s troops.
The US military conducted a similar exercise in Panama a month ago. This allows Washington to train using Panama’s air and naval bases without establishing their own base.
The agreement came amid pressure from US President Donald Trump, who sparked protests in the Central American country and threatened to reclaim the canal.
He repeatedly claims that China has too much influence on the canal, which handles about 40% of our container traffic and 5% of global trade.
In April, Trump sought free transportation for American commercial and military vessels through routes between the US, claiming that the US “doesn’t exist” without the US.
However, Panama President Jose Raul Murino said tolls are regulated by the Panama Canal Bureau, an autonomous governing body that oversees trade routes.
The US presence in Panama remains a sensitive issue, as it evokes the era when Washington had military base enclaves within the country before the canal was handed over to the Panamaans on December 31, 1999.
Senan officials said the US operations will continue until Friday, and will respect “national sovereignty.”
Palacios said the exercise has been held for 23 years.
rhm/