Panama City, Panama – United States Air Forces South/12th Air Force (AFSOUTH) personnel participated in a Crisis Planning (CIP) conference June 22-30, in Panama City , Panama, where air component planners from 10 Caribbean and Latin American countries coordinated air force operations for the upcoming PANAMAX 2022 exercise.
The PANAMAX 2022 scenario will involve conducting simulated security and stability operations to ensure the free flow of trade through the Panama Canal. Twenty-nine nations will come together to form the Multinational Forces South (MNFS) coalition, participating in the exercise August 1-12, 2022, from various locations across the U.S. Unlike previous PANAMAX exercises, this year movements of personnel, aircraft and support equipment will be simulated.
At the PIC, air force representatives from the 10 countries planned how the MNFS coalition air component will support land and sea forces, to restore Panama Canal operations and build partner nation relationships and capabilities.
Division General Carlos Silva, Commander of the Air and Space Operations Command of the Colombian Air Force, led the conference as Commander of the Combined Forces Air Component (CFACC) for PANAMAX 2022. Also in attendance was Air Force Brigadier General Sean Choquette, deputy commander of AFSOUTH and deputy commander of CFACC for the exercise.
“Our partnerships in the Western Hemisphere are vital to regional stability and prosperity, and we enhance economic security both here and around the world by enhancing our collective response to the complex threats in Panama,” said Maj. Gen. Choquette. “By exercising the joint planning process we build the professional relationships and friendships essential for rapid response in times of crisis. Regional security is a team effort.”
PANAMAX is an annual combined exercise sponsored by US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) to strengthen partnerships, increase readiness, and improve interoperability between the US military and partner nations, to build the ability to plan and execute complex multinational operations.