According to a statement from the National Air and Naval Service (Senan), the aircraft (two NH-60s and one UH-60) will arrive for jungle training involving specialized units from Senan, the National Police, and the National Border Service, along with US Marines.

The exercises will take place at the Admiral Cristóbal Colón Air and Naval Base on the Panamanian Caribbean coast.

For groups like the National Front for the Defense of Economic and Social Rights (Frenadeso), these types of maneuvers are endorsed by a security memorandum, detrimental to sovereignty, signed in April of last year, which allows the presence of troops and the establishment of military bases as part of the current government’s policy of surrendering its sovereignty.

According to the National Air and Naval Service (SENAN), “this training program is part of bilateral cooperation between Panama and the United States, aimed at strengthening the preparedness and operational capabilities of state security forces to confront threats such as transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, and other illicit activities.”

They also emphasize that “these exercises contribute to strengthening the capacity to respond to emergencies, rescue operations, and the protection of the country’s strategic infrastructure, including the Panama Canal.” Since taking office in January 2025, President Donald Trump has insisted that he will regain control of the interoceanic waterway, under alleged Chinese influence, a claim denied by authorities in both countries.

Although the official statement reiterates that all training activities will be conducted with strict respect for national sovereignty and Panamanian laws, activist groups point out that they violate the Neutrality Treaty, in force since 1979, which guarantees that the Canal remains secure, neutral, and open to peaceful transit for all nations.

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