Panamax 2026 exercise concludes in Mayport, Florida

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet has completed the Combined Force Maritime Component Command portion of PANAMAX 2026, a two-week phase running Aug. 3-12 that focused on maritime interoperability training and building partner capacity to plan and execute operations.

Participants worked through a series of maritime scenarios designed to sharpen skills, reinforce cooperative ties, and demonstrate collective ability to deter and respond to threats to maritime regions and critical waterways.

“The two weeks have been intensive,” said Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, Commander, U.S. Fourth Fleet. “The high tempo required a total team effort; we came here as individuals, and we leave here as a team, forged together.”

Under the exercise scenario, air, land, special forces and maritime components formed a multinational force to defend the Panama Canal under a United Nations Security Council resolution, conducting complex simulated operations in the canal and regional waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

“This exercise is essential because it’s a crucible on which we forge our own individual strengths, and we address our weaknesses and our self-doubt,” said Sardiello. “We worked outside our comfort zones to develop as leaders and as officers.”

The CFMCC activities were conducted at multiple U.S. locations, including the Joint Staff Exercise Directorate in Suffolk, Va.; U.S. Southern Command in Doral, Fla.; Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas; Homestead Air Reserve Base in Homestead, Fla.; Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz.; and Naval Station Mayport, Fla. More than 150 U.S. and partner nation personnel supported the effort across these sites.

“It is important, the friendships we built these two weeks of hard working,” said Chilean Navy Capt. Juan Pablo Villanueva, Deputy Commander of the Maritime Component at PANAMAX 2026, “I am certain that each of us will cherish the personal and professional qualities we shared. Memories will endure, and whenever we cross paths at an international event, we will remember that we were Panamax 2026.”

Participating nations included Panama, Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, UK and the United States.

PANAMAX 2026 is a Republic of Panama-hosted, U.S. Southern Command-sponsored training exercise that aims to improve interoperability and strengthen the ability to conduct complex multinational, all-domain operations to ensure the free flow of commerce through the Panama Canal and maintain security and stability in the region.