US Denies Sending 600 Troops to Panama
The US Embassy in Panama called a report of 600 US soldiers arriving for an anti-drug campaign false, saying 120 are on a jungle course until 25 October. The post US Denies Sending 600 Troops to Panama appeared first on The Rio Times .
On Wednesday 14 October, the United States denied sending 600 troops to Panama, dismissing a New York Times report as "categorically false." The American embassy stated that 120 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division are undergoing a two-week jungle training course in Panama, concluding on Sunday 25 October. This claim matters to Americans as it is connected to a broader US anti-drug campaign that could potentially extend to Honduras and Colombia.
Panama, known for the Panama Canal, has a history of disputes regarding US troop visits. Since a 2025 security deal that critics called a loss of sovereignty, tensions have arisen. The embassy in Panama expressed regret over media outlets continuing to publish misleading claims about US forces and their Panamanian partners without verifying facts.
The embassy in Panama clarified that the 120 soldiers are not part of a new deployment but are instead taking a jungle training course at the Jungle Operations Training Center, a school officially recognized by the US Army. The course has been running for over a year, with American and Panamanian instructors teaching survival and jungle operations side by side. Upon completion of the course, graduates receive a Jungle Tab, an Army badge, and a certificate of completion. They return to their home units afterward.
This deployment comes after a memorandum signed on April 9, 2025, between the two governments. The memorandum established a temporary, rotating US military presence in Panama, excluding the establishment of US military bases. The deal respects Panama's 1977 Neutrality Treaty and constitution, ensuring no cession of sovereignty. However, critics argue it opens the door to foreign troops.
The embassy emphasized that the 120 soldiers are there at the invitation of the Panamanian government and work closely with their Panamanian counterparts. They have been providing support during the recent magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Panama, delivering supplies and coordinating response teams. The embassy also highlighted that the US has provided Panama with 17 trucks for earthquake relief.
The Pentagon's decision to send troops to Panama is part of a larger anti-drug campaign, as reported by the New York Times. The campaign is coordinated from a command in Miami and could potentially expand to other Latin American countries, including Honduras and Colombia. Mexico's navy chief also mentioned that US forces share early warnings about suspect boats, with Mexico's navy subsequently taking action.
The US Army's Jungle Operations Training Center at Fort Sherman, a former US military site, has been operational for a year. US and Panamanian instructors teach survival and jungle operations together, and graduates receive a Jungle Tab and certificate of completion. US participants do not stay in Panama after graduation but return to their home units.
The embassy's statement provides a clear end date of Sunday 25 October for the jungle course, which is significant for families with soldiers at Fort Drum. The embassy's rejection of the 600-troop figure and clarification that the deployment is temporary and supported by the Panamanian government adds clarity to the situation. However, it remains uncertain whether additional troops will be sent to Panama under the wider anti-drug campaign, and how Panama's government will respond to both the report and the embassy's denial.
Written by urgent.news from The Rio Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
