General Donovan visits Panama

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Francis L. Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), conducted a five-day visit to Panama to reinforce regional security objectives, review exercise PANAMAX 2026 multinational training, and join senior leaders, including U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, for a high-level counter-cartel forum.

It was his second trip to Panama since assuming command in February. During the visit, Donovan met with Panamanian leaders to discuss shared security partnership objectives, surveyed training sites for PANAMAX 2026, and joined partner nation defense and security leaders for the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C) forum. The concurrent visits by Donovan and Hegseth, combined with Panama hosting PANAMAX and the A3C forum, underscore Panama’s status as a premier regional security leader.

On Aug. 12, Donovan met with Panamanian Minister of Public Security Frank Alexis Ábrego to discuss key A3C initiatives aimed at defeating cartels and narco-terrorism, protecting borders, and safeguarding sovereignty. They also discussed PANAMAX 2026, a multinational exercise hosted by Panama designed to strengthen partner nation capabilities to counter regional threats and safeguard the Panama Canal.

While reviewing PANAMAX operations, Donovan observed training and engaged with U.S. service members and personnel from 18 partner nations. He joined Hegseth to visit the Jungle Operations Training Course–Panama at Base Aeronaval Cristóbal Colón, a Panama-hosted program that strengthens regional security by ensuring U.S. forces and Panamanian security institutions can effectively survive, fight, and win in jungle domains.

Donovan also joined U.S. Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG-101) during its transit through the Panama Canal, meeting with the crew and thanking them for their commitment, dedication, and professionalism.

From Aug. 11-12, he participated in the A3C forum, where he delivered remarks and met with partner nation counterparts to discuss priorities for advancing hemispheric cooperation against narco-terrorist networks. That cooperation includes expanded bilateral and multilateral efforts, such as deepening collaboration on border security, countering malign actors, and defending sovereignty throughout the Western Hemisphere.

The United States and Panama share an enduring security partnership built on mutual respect and trust, guided by shared values and a commitment to defeat regional threats and counter challenges that undermine hemispheric stability.