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← Signal: State & Power

Pentagon expands drug cartel operations, deploys troops to Panama

Confirmed1 source · Oct 16, 2026

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is sending nearly 200 Army soldiers from Fort Drum to Panama for jungle warfare training as part of an expanded military campaign against drug cartels in Latin America.

Pentagon expands drug cartel operations, deploys troops to Panama
Image via The Hill

What happened

The Pentagon is deploying approximately 200 Army soldiers from Fort Drum in northern New York to Panama to conduct jungle warfare training. This deployment is occurring under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as part of an expansion of the U.S. military's operations against drug cartels in Latin America.

Context

The deployment reflects a shift toward increased military engagement in the drug war within the Latin American region. The use of jungle warfare training in Panama suggests preparation for operations in challenging terrain where drug trafficking organizations operate.