Pentagon deploys Army troops to Panama as drug campaign expands

The United States military is deploying several hundred Army soldiers to Latin America as the Trump administration expands its campaign against drug trafficking, Fox News reported. According to reporting from The New York Times, Fox News, and Newser, the operation involves a battalion of roughly 600 soldiers sent to the region. [1][6][9][10]

The initial deployment involves soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division, which is based at Fort Drum in New York, Fox News said. First reported by The New York Times, the initial group of troops is expected to deploy to Panama for jungle training and joint exercises with regional forces. [1][9]

A senior United States official confirmed to Fox News that the troops are being forward-staged under United States control. The New York Times reported that the expanding Pentagon plans recall a long history of military intervention by the United States in the region. [1][6]

Latin America is a cultural region of the Americas where Romance languages such as Spanish and Portuguese are predominantly spoken. As FTMQ News reported earlier, the deployment comes as the United States State Department monitors other regional drug issues, including recent allegations involving government aircraft in Colombia. [12][17]