Nations convene for PANAMAX 2026 pre-sail conference

Colón, Panama — The Royal Netherlands Navy hosted counterparts from the United States, Dominican Republic, Panama and Colombia aboard HNLMS Groningen (P843) on Aug. 4 for a pre-sail briefing outlining plans for PANAMAX 2026.

Four principal ships are slated to participate: the Netherlands’ HNLMS Groningen offshore patrol vessel; Colombia’s ARC Caldas (FM-52) frigate; the Dominican Republic’s GC-112 Altair patrol boat; and Panama’s P-230 Los Santos patrol boat. They will be joined by three uncrewed surface vessels supplied by the United States.

“Interoperability is such a critical part of this training,” said Lt. Cmdr. Kyle Monbleau, lead planner and liaison for the Combined Force Maritime Component Commander, “as it allows us to combine our respective languages, backgrounds, experience, and capabilities to form a capable and ready maritime force.”

The training is focused on protecting maritime shipping, ensuring freedom of movement and maintaining regional stability by building a common understanding of maritime operations across participating nations.

“This exercise contributes to strengthening our interoperability between forces by integrating deliberate planning efforts across many nations, respective joint services and communities,” said Monbleau, “This exercise is a remarkable way to prepare these nations for future collaborative security and defense efforts.”

At the request of Panama’s government, the effort includes the U.S. employing multinational capabilities and interoperability, as deemed necessary by Panama, to defend the Panama Canal and bolster regional security.

“No single country can address all maritime security challenges on its own,” said Cmdr. Alex Arriëns Dwarshuis, commanding officer of the HNLMS Groningen, “By investing in cooperation, we increase our effectiveness when operating at sea.”

PANAMAX 2026 scenarios are designed to help defense and public security forces improve interoperability, sharpen skills for coalition and all-domain operations, strengthen partnerships and demonstrate a collective ability to respond to and deter threats to the region’s critical waterways.