The United States published its National Defense Strategy 2026 this Friday, making it clear that it is ready to act unilaterally against narcoterrorism if its allies do not do their part. Among the strategic locations mentioned are the Panama Canal, the Gulf of Mexico, and Greenland, indicating that access will be 'guaranteed' for U.S. and commercial interests. The Pentagon document details that they will support their partners in Latin America but will maintain the capacity to make unilateral decisions in the face of threats. 'If our partners cannot or will not do their part, we will be prepared to act decisively on our own,' the strategy states, recalling operations such as the capture of Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. Panama, as a country with a key point in world trade, is in the crosshairs of this strategy, which places the Panama Canal on its national security radar. 'Our neighbors, from Canada to Central and South America, will have to do their part to defend common interests,' the text warns, suggesting that Panama and other countries in the region may feel pressured to cooperate on hemispheric security. The publication highlights that the U.S. Army will seek to restore military dominance in the hemisphere, defending skies, seas, and trade routes, with special attention to the canal and its surroundings. The Pentagon also clarifies that while protecting its territory and seeking to contain China in the Indo-Pacific, it will reduce support to allies in Europe and other areas.
