According to a press release from the U.S. Embassy in Panama: “PANAMAX 2026 concluded today [August 13th] in Panama, marking the first time the exercise has been held live and in the field since 2012. From August 3–13, the United States, Panama, and 17 other partner nations trained together to defend the Panama Canal, harden regional readiness, and build the collective capability to dismantle shared threats to the Western Hemisphere.
The press release quoted the U.S. ambassador to Panama: “ ‘PANAMAX 2026 showed what happens when the United States, Panama, and our partners train with purpose and act as one. Under President Trump’s leadership, we moved PANAMAX from a tabletop exercise back into the field—securing the Canal and taking the fight straight to the cartels,” stated U.S. Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera.”
More from the press release: “Over the 11-day exercise, participants conducted maritime drills, small-boat operations, search and seizure training, cyber defense, air assault missions, and special operations training focused on defending critical infrastructure and defeating threats to the region — sharpening the interoperability and hard power needed to respond as one force.”
“Alongside the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C) forum, which also took place this week with our partner nations, the mission remains clear: dismantle the cartels once and for all, seize their money, and eradicate their networks and operations. The Americas belong to sovereign nations, not narco-terrorists.”
“Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States, Panama, fellow PANAMAX participants, and our A3C partners are expanding security cooperation that turns planning into action, strengthens defense of the Panama Canal, pushes back against malign influence, and delivers a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Western Hemisphere.”
The nations with military elements participating in PANAMAX 2026 were the United States, Panama, Germany, Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, United Kingdom, the Dominican Republic and Mexico.
Here are photos of Mexican Marines training with U.S. Marines, Ecuadorian Marines and personnel from the Panamanian Aeronaval Service. The photos follow a sequence of training from August 4th to August 7th:
AUGUST 4th – RAID CLASS :
“A marine with Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina (Mexican marine corps) interacts with U.S. Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division during a raid class as part of PANAMAX 2026 at Base Aeronaval Cristobal Colón, Panama, Aug. 4, 2026.” –DVID Image 1 of 11 Source: Lance Cpl. Dominic Trujillo, U.S. Marine Corps photo“Leaders with U.S. Marines of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina (Mexican marine corps), Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina (Ecuadorian marines) and Panamanian Aeronaval Service share stories during a raid class as part of PANAMAX 2026 at Base Aeronaval Cristobal Colón, Panama, Aug. 4, 2026.” – DVID Image 2 of 11 Source: Lance Cpl. Dominic Trujillo, U.S. Marine Corps photo)“U.S. Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, marines with Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina (Mexican marine corps), Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina (Ecuadorian marines) and the Panamanian Aeronaval Service conduct a battle plan during a raid class as part of PANAMAX 2026 at Base Aeronaval Cristobal Colón, Panama, Aug. 4, 2026.” – DVID Image 6 of 11 Source: Lance Cpl. Dominic Trujillo, U.S. Marine Corps photo“U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Evan Turner, the company commander of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division talks to leaders with Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina (Mexican marine corps), Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina (Ecuadorian marines) and Panamanian Aeronaval forces during a brief as part of PANAMAX 2026 at Base Aeronaval Cristobal Colón, Panama, Aug. 4, 2026.” – DVID Image 10 of 11 Source: Lance Cpl. Dominic Trujillo, U.S. Marine Corps photo
AUGUST 5th – RAID TRAINING
“U.S. Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Infantes of the Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina de Mexico (Mexican marine corps), Cuerpo de Infanteria de Marina Ecuador (Ecuadorian marine corps) and Panama’s Servicio Nacional Aeronaval conduct reload drills at Base Aeronaval Cristobal Colón, Panama, Aug. 05, 2026, as part of PANAMAX 2026.” –DVID Image 1 of 9 Source: Lance Cpl. Dominic Trujillo, U.S. Marine Corps“U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Christopher Irizarry, a rifleman with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division observes Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina de Mexico (Mexican marine corps), Cuerpo de Infanteria de Marina Ecuador (Ecuadorian marine corps) and Servicio Nacional Aeronaval personnel conduct reload drills at Base Aeronaval Cristobal Colón, Panama, Aug. 05, 2026, as part of PANAMAX 2026.” –DVID Image 2 of 9 Source: Lance Cpl. Dominic Trujillo, U.S. Marine Corps photo“U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Christopher Izizarry, a rifleman with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division discusses procedures with marines with the Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina de Mexico (Mexican marine corps), Cuerpo de Infanteria de Marina Ecuador (Ecuadorian marine corps) and Servicio Nacional Aeronaval during an objective rally point class at Base Aeronaval Cristobal Colón, Panama, Aug. 05, 2026, as part of PANAMAX 2026.” – DVID Image 5 of 9 Source: Lance Cpl. Dominic Trujillo, U.S. Marine Corps photo“Marines with Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina de Mexico (Mexican marine corps), Cuerpo de Infanteria de Marina Ecuador (Ecuadorian marine corps) and Panamanian Servicio Nacional Aeronaval personnel listen to tactics for an objective rally point class on Base Aeronaval Cristobal Colón, Panama, Aug. 05, 2026, as part of PANAMAX 2026.” – DVID Image 8 of 9 Source: Lance Cpl. Dominic Trujillo, U.S. Marine Corps photo“U.S Marine Corps Cpl. Rupen Bastajian Jr, a team leader with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division shows his notes to marines with Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina de Mexico (Mexican marine corps) and Panama’s Servicio Nacional Aeronaval during on objective rally point class at Base Aeronaval Cristobal Colón, Panama, Aug. 05, 2026, as part of PANAMAX 2026.” – DVID Image 9 of 9 Source: Lance Cpl. Dominic Trujillo, U.S. Marine Corps photo
