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Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX

Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX is an annual U.S. Southern Command-sponsored multinational training exercise series. PANAMAX is a preemptive effort to respond to any request from the government of Panama to protect and guarantee safe passage of traffic through the Panama Canal, ensure its neutrality and respect national sovereignty. This exercise is designed to execute stability operations under the support of a United Nations Security Council Resolution, provide interoperability training for the participating multinational staffs, and build participating nations' capabilities to plan and execute complex multinational operations. As the Army service component command of U.S. Southern Command, or SOUTHCOM, Army South conducts and supports multinational operations and security cooperation in the Southern Command area of responsibility in order to counter transnational threats and strengthen regional security in defense of the homeland. The majority of countries participating in PANAMAX 15 are located within SOUTHCOM's area of responsibility, which includes the Caribbean, Central, and South America. Additionally, Canada and France, who are not a part of SOUTHCOM's area of responsibility, have participated in the exercise. Sixteen countries from around the globe joined together to participate in Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX 15, which focused on ensuring the defense of the Panama Canal. It took place in two parts--Phase I Multi-national Forces South, June 19-27, and Phase II Combined Land Forces Component, July 27-Aug. 5, in different parts of the U.S. including Fort Sam Houston, Texas. "The primary objective of the exercise is to demonstrate the capability of participating nations to conduct coalition operations at the operational level while under the auspices of a United Nations Security Council Resolution," said Lt. Col. Thomas Small, Chief of Operational Exercises, U.S. Army South. "The priority for my country is the defense of the Panama Canal, to protect the transit throughout the canal on both sides and also to be prepared to face any potential threat in the canal or to the canal itself. To achieve that goal, we need to develop the capability of a multinational force and also establish the coordination required to make it work," said Lt. Col. Faustino Grajales, a member of the presidential guard in Panama. Participants of the exercise took part in simulated training scenarios which included ensuring civil, naval, air and ground security forces can operate as an effective team, coordinating assets and sharing information to respond quickly to a variety of crises and protect the security of the region. This year, Brazil led the Special Forces components, Colombia led the land component, Chile led the maritime component and Peru led the air component of the exercise.