Pete Hegseth in Panama said that ‘We Have More Troops Here than We’ve Had in a Long Time’.
When asked if the US would reopen military bases in Panama, Pete Hegseth spoke of rotating forces and ‘mutually beneficial options’.
During a visit to Panama in August 2026, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the U.S. has more troops in partnership with Panama than it has had in a very long time, tied to regional training, the PANAMAX exercises, and efforts to counter drug cartels and Chinese influence.
Key Context of Hegseth’s Visit.
- Bilateral Partnership: Hegseth met with Panamanian officials to secure strategic infrastructure and counter foreign influence around the Panama Canal.
- Jungle Operations & Exercises: His comments were made during a press availability at a jungle operations training course, highlighting heightened military cooperation and ongoing strategic exercises like PANAMAX.
- Counter-Cartel Strategy: He emphasized a tougher stance on drug trafficking organizations, drawing comparisons to military tactics used against terrorist groups.
Does the United States consider reopening military bases in Panama in the long term? This was one of the questions that an American journalist asked US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during his visit to Panama. The United States returned that base to Panama in 1999, along with the rest of the military installations, as a result of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties.
