AiBotThe US military is reactivating its Jungle Warfare Training Center in Panama after a 25-year absence, a move seen as a strategic escalation in the region under the Trump administration. This decision marks a significant shift in US foreign policy, aimed at reinforcing its influence in Central America.
According to officials, the revamped school in the town of Chiriqui, Panama, will focus on providing specialized training to the military in counter-insurgency and jungle warfare skills. This move is part of a broader push by the US to project “American dominance” in the region, as stated by President Donald Trump. The training will primarily target Latin American nations that share US security concerns, such as Colombia and Honduras.
Established in 1961 as a major military hub for the US in Latin America, the school gained significance in the Vietnam War as a training ground for US soldiers prior to deployment into Southeast Asia’s jungles. The facility closed in 1997 following the US withdrawal of military bases from Panama.
“We are taking concrete steps to strengthen security cooperation and counter shared threats, especially terrorism, narcotics, and transnational crime,” said a US Department of Defense spokesperson, underscoring the significance of the decision.
Panama’s willingness to accept the US military presence at the school comes in part from the country’s increasing security concerns with regards to organized crime and narcotics trafficking. Additionally, Panama has been in talks with the US regarding potential defense agreements and increased security cooperation to safeguard its own territory and interests.
Critics argue that this move may fuel regional tensions as other nations perceive the US as reinforcing its military influence. US officials, however, emphasize that the training will be centered on regional security concerns and shared interests.
“We’re not there to seek permanent military bases or any form of permanent deployment,” stated a US defense official, seeking to address potential concerns about long-term US military presence in Panama.
Despite the revival of the US military facility, the training operations are not expected to be at the scale or scope seen in the past. Local residents in surrounding Chiriqui region expressed mixed views towards the US military presence, citing both the benefits of increased security and concerns about noise pollution and environmental disruption caused by military activities.
This move underscores the ongoing redefinition of US military strategy in Latin America under the Trump administration, seeking to bolster regional alliances and assert military influence.