Breaking News: US Expands Special Operations Forces in Panama as President Trump Reasserts Canal Control.

The United States is ramping up its military and diplomatic presence in Panama, signaling a significant strategic shift under the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. According to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Defense on April 4, 2025, recent security engagements between U.S. and Panamanian forces culminated in the first official U.S.-Panama Special Operations Forces (SOF) talks, held on February 18, 2025. This strategic engagement, held amidst ongoing U.S. military exercises in the country, reflects Washington’s renewed push to reassert control over the Panama Canal—a vital artery of global commerce that U.S. President Donald Trump now says America is “reclaiming.”
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A U.S. Army Special Forces operator from the 7th Special Forces Group instructs Panamanian National Aeronaval Service personnel on demolition techniques during a joint training exercise in Cerro Tigre, Panama, February 19, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

This renewed focus on Panama’s strategic importance is underscored by an upcoming visit from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, scheduled for next week. The trip, announced on April 4, 2025, makes Hegseth the second high-ranking American official to visit the country in as many months, further solidifying Panama’s growing relevance in U.S. defense and foreign policy.

While the U.S. maintains a relatively modest military presence in Panama today, the United States has been developing plans to expand its footprint, reflecting the President’s vision of re-establishing American control and oversight over the canal. Though formally transferred to Panama in 1999, the canal remains an indispensable conduit for global trade and a critical component of U.S. national security interests—both from an economic and operational standpoint.

The expansion aligns with U.S President Trump’s broader defense posture, emphasizing strength, deterrence, and the protection of strategic infrastructure. In a recent statement, Trump declared that the United States is “reclaiming” the Panama Canal, highlighting its role as a chokepoint for maritime traffic and an essential route for the U.S. Navy and commercial shipping.

This declaration has coincided with intensified U.S.-Panama military cooperation, culminating in the first-ever official SOF (Special Operations Forces) talks on February 18, 2025. These talks, held in Panama City, brought together senior defense officials from both nations, including Rear Adm. Mark A. Schafer, Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command South (Socsouth), and Frank Abrego, Panama’s Minister of Public Security.

“This enduring partnership is crucial for regional stability and reflects our shared commitment to a secure future,” Schafer said, commending Panama’s Special Operations community for their professionalism and commitment to combating regional threats. The meeting produced a memorandum of agreement formalizing long-term collaborative training, with a specific focus on countering transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, and disaster response.

Since 2020, Socsouth has maintained a continuous presence in Panama, facilitating daily cooperation and training initiatives. U.S. forces have played a central role in developing the capabilities of Panama’s National Border Service, particularly in counter-narcotics operations—an effort dating back to 2008.

“From small team exchanges to large-scale exercises like Panamax-Alpha, our cooperation with Panama exemplifies the core mission of SOF: building partner capacity and enabling regional partners to lead in securing their own borders,” said Army Maj. Trevor Wild, Socsouth’s Public Affairs Officer.

Panama’s strategic position makes it a natural partner for U.S. operations aimed at maintaining freedom of navigation and regional security. The Panama Canal, through which an estimated 5% of global maritime trade flows, is vital not only for economic reasons but also for operational mobility of U.S. naval assets between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The recent military training exercises between U.S. and Panamanian forces, which took place alongside the SOF talks, included advanced marksmanship, small unit combat tactics, demolition operations, secure communications, and battlefield medical training. These rigorous drills reflect the increasing sophistication and interoperability of the U.S.-Panama security relationship.

“SOF’s forward deployment model is designed to ensure that our forces are embedded with partners like Panama, ready to respond to threats with speed and effectiveness,” Wild added. “The continued presence of U.S. SOF personnel in Panama is a testament to the strength and trust embedded in this relationship.”

Further deepening this relationship, Panama hosted Fuerzas Comando 2024 last May—a premier Southcom-sponsored event featuring military skills competitions and a senior leadership seminar. The event drew more than 450 participants from allied and partner nations, reinforcing Panama’s status as a regional security hub.

With approximately 6,000 U.S. SOF personnel operating across 80 countries, the U.S.-Panama partnership stands out as a model of long-term strategic engagement. The Trump administration’s push to “reclaim” the canal is now materializing through sustained military cooperation, high-level diplomatic visits, and policy rhetoric that frames Panama not only as a partner, but as a key pillar in the United States’ global security architecture.

As the U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth prepares to visit Panama next week, the momentum continues to build. The visit is expected further to advance discussions on security cooperation, defense modernization, and expanded U.S. military access—all aimed at ensuring the Panama Canal remains secure and under the sphere of American influence in an increasingly competitive global environment.

This evolving strategy reflects Washington’s recognition of Panama’s enduring strategic value and underscores a broader shift toward assertive American leadership in the Western Hemisphere. In the words of President Trump, “The Panama Canal is a symbol of American power and ingenuity—and we are bringing it back under our protection.”