Panama and the United States Strengthen Joint Jungle Operations Training

The Combined Jungle Operations Course has returned to Panama with the participation of security forces from both countries, in an initiative that blends tactical training, capability sharing, and regional coordination.

Temperatures and heart rates climb at the Cristóbal Colón Naval Air Base as Panamanian security forces push forward through the “Green Mile,” the demanding final test of the Combined Jungle Operations Course. Exhausted but nearing the end of the intensive program, participants are pushed to the limits of their physical and mental endurance.

The exercise tests tactical judgment, communication, and problem-solving as participants move through dense triple-canopy jungle while avoiding potentially dangerous wildlife and vegetation. Those who complete the course leave not only with stronger operational capabilities, but also with a deeper respect for the natural environment in which they must operate.

Military Cooperation and Joint Training

At the graduation ceremony for the first class, Deputy Minister of Public Security Luis Felipe Icaza highlighted the tangible results of the program, emphasizing that the training has strengthened both operational capabilities and international cooperation.

Members of Panama’s National Border Service (SENAFRONT), National Air and Naval Service (SENAN), and National Police (PNP) complete 21 days of training alongside their U.S. counterparts. Panamanian forces play a central role in the program, participating not only as students but also as instructors.

In fact, Panamanian instructors lead the demanding jungle survival phase. The U.S. contingent includes personnel from the Army Security Cooperation Group – South, the 82nd Airborne Division, and the U.S. Marine Corps. While the current program focuses on forces from Panama and the United States, the school has a long record of training personnel from other allied nations and participates in international seminars on jungle warfare.

These joint exercises rest on Panama’s commitment to maritime security and the strategic importance of the canal, a point President José Raúl Mulino recently underscored in his address to the United Nations General Assembly.

Panamanian forces also take part regularly in PANAMAX, the annual multinational military exercise designed to defend the canal, as well as in the Fuerzas Comando special operations competition, one of the most demanding events of its kind in the region. Panama not only competes in the exercise but also hosted the 2024 edition at the National Police Academy in Cerro Tigre.

“This training has not only enhanced the capabilities of our force, but it has also reaffirmed the bonds of cooperation and brotherhood between Panama and the United States,” Deputy Minister Icaza said. “Through this partnership we continue building security, trust, and peace for our nations.”

Geopolitical Context in the Hemisphere

These shared objectives gain additional significance at a time when alliances across the Western Hemisphere are acquiring growing geopolitical weight. China has expanded its security engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean, offering training programs in its territory for military and law enforcement personnel from the region. That dynamic could encourage countries wary of Beijing’s predatory practices to seek training opportunities closer to home or with longstanding partners such as the United States.

In a period marked by shifting global alliances, the reopening of the Jungle Operations Course in Panama goes beyond a tactical exercise. It reflects a strategic decision. By reviving this historic cooperation, Panama and the United States send a clear signal of their commitment to regional stability and mutual defense.

The demanding “Green Mile” is not simply a test of endurance for the soldiers who cross it. It also stands as a symbol of a renewed and resilient alliance, one that sees shared values and cooperative security as essential tools for navigating the complex geopolitical jungle of the twenty-first century.