Panama Armed Forces

The first armed units in Panama were created in November 1821, during the war for the independence of the Spanish colonies, but after the end of the war they were disbanded or became part of the armed forces of Columbia ^[1] .

In 1846, under pressure from the United States, the Government of New Granada signed an agreement on peace, friendship, trade and navigation, according to which the United States committed itself to "guarantee the neutrality of the Isthmus of Panama" and "to help preserve the sovereign rights of the Government of New Granada over the Panama isthmus. " In 1856, after the completion of the railway, US soldiers first landed in Panama. Since that time, for almost 50 years, the United States has maintained a military presence in Panama (in the form of the presence of navy ships in ports) and landed troops several times ^[2] .

During the Colombian civil war between liberals and conservatives, the United States sent naval warships to the shores of Panama "to protect US interests and property in the Panama Canal zone." On November 2, 1903, US ships embarked on a raid near the city of Panama, on November 3, 1903, the creation of the Panamanian state independent of Colombia was proclaimed here, and on November 6, 1903, the state of Panama was recognized by the United States ^[1] . The units of the Colombian army, located in Panama, went over to the side of the separatists.

On November 18, 1903, an agreement was signed between Panama and the United States, according to which the United States received the right "to forever" deploy troops in Panama and "provide control" over the Panama Canal ^[1] . In 1904, the right of the United States to deploy armed forces in Panama was enshrined in the constitution of Panama ^[3] .

In 1917, after the United States entered the First World War , Panama declared war on Germany (however, Panama’s armed forces did not take direct part in the fighting) ^[2] .

In 1918, the United States occupied the city of Panama and the city of Colon "to monitor the order" ^[1] , in 1918-1920. - Occupied Chirika province ^[1] .

In 1921, the Government of Costa Rica made territorial claims against the Government of Panama and attempted to occupy the disputed territories on the Pacific coast (the pretext was the decision of the international arbitration of 1914). After US intervention, Costa Rican army units were withdrawn from Panama ^[4] .

In February 1925, a revolt of the Indians began on the Panama Islands belonging to Panama, in the organization of which US attorneys in Panama Richard Marsh took part. Native American leaders drafted a manifesto proclaiming the creation of the "Republic of Tula" under the US protectorate. In March 1925, the Indian uprising was crushed, the Panama Parliament demanded that the United States punish Richard Marsh, but the United States left this demand unanswered ^[2] .

After the outbreak of World War II , in September 1939, at the initiative of the United States, a consultative meeting of foreign ministers of the countries of the American continent took place in Panama, which adopted a declaration on the neutrality of the countries of the Western hemisphere. In October 1939, US President F. Roosevelt signed the Rainbow-1 plan, according to which the US began building up its forces in Panama ^[5] .

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor , Panama declared war on Germany and Japan in early December 1941, but did not take direct part in the hostilities in World War II.

In 1942, the national militia was created ^[6] .

On May 18, 1942, the United States and Panama signed an agreement under which the Government of Panama “during the war” leased the USA land plots with a total area of ​​15 thousand hectares for the construction of 134 military bases and military facilities, provided that these lands are returned no later than a year after the end of the war ^[2] . After the end of World War II, the United States did not return the land received for rent ^[1] , and on December 10, 1947, the Philos - Hines Agreement was signed between the United States and Panama, according to which the United States received the right to occupy the entire territory of the country and establish control over roads ^[2] .

The signing of the agreement provoked mass protests, and on December 22, 1947, the Philos - Hines Agreement was terminated ^[2] . Land transferred to the United States in 1942 was returned to Panama only after a series of mass protests by the population in 1947-1949. ^[1] .

In 1946, the Latin American Training Center (US Ground Forces ) was created in the area of ​​the Panama Canal , at the territory of the American military base Fort Amador. Later, in 1949 the center was expanded, moved to the territory of the American military base Fort Gulik, and in 1963 it received a new name - " School of the Americas " ( US Army School of the Americas ). Under the leadership of American military instructors, the Panamanian Army and other Latin American countries were trained at the School of the Americas.

In 1947, an Inter-American Mutual Assistance Treaty was signed in Rio de Janeiro, to which Panama joined.

In December 1953, the national police was transformed into the National Guard ( Guardia Nacional ) ^[7] . As of 1953, the total strength of the National Guard was 2,000 troops, and the arsenal had foreign-made small arms. In addition, in accordance with the constitution, it was possible to mobilize men in the event of a war ^[6] .

In 1956, Panama took part in the UN peacekeeping operation in the Middle East, during which 1 Panamanian soldier (who was part of the UNEF forces in Egypt) was killed ^[8] .

In the 1960s, Panama joined the Central American Defense Council ( CONDECA, Consejo de Defensa Centroamericana ).

Between 1963 and 1969, the United States transferred 917 units to Panama under the Military Assistance Program . carbines M1 and M2 ^[9] .

In October 1968, units of the National Guard participated in a military coup, as a result of which General Omar Torrijos took over as president ^[10] .

In 1970, Torrijos refused to renew the agreement with the United States on the lease of a military base in Rio Ato ^[3] (the last US military base outside the Panama Canal zone) and in August 1970 Rio Ato was evacuated (however, 14 military remained in the Panama Canal zone bases and military training centers of the USA) ^[10] .

As of 1972, the total number of the National Guard was 5 thousand people (including other paramilitary forces - up to 6 thousand people), armed with small arms ^[3] .

As of 1977, the total number of internal security forces and other militarized organizations was 11 thousand people, who were armed with small arms ^{[1] [11]} .

In September 1983, the Panama National Defense Forces ( Fuerzas de Defensa de la República de Panamá ) were created on the basis of the National Guard units ^[12] .

In 1984, the Government of Panama insisted on the closure of the School of the Americas located in the Panama Canal Zone, which was transferred to the United States.

In March 1988, the commander of the Panamanian army, General Manuel Noriega ordered the creation of volunteer volunteer battalions Dignidad ( los Batallones de la Dignidad ), which were supposed to be used in the event of a US invasion or anti-government rebellion. The general command of the battalions was carried out by Benjamín Colamarco Patiño . Small arms were handed over to the militia for arming from the warehouses of the National Guard and the police. In total, until December 1989, about 5 thousand people entered the battalions ^[13] .

In December 1989, just before the start of the US invasion of Panama , the armed forces of Panama totaled 12 thousand troops ^[14] :

• ground forces - 11.5 thousand military personnel (7 infantry companies, 1 airborne company and several militia battalions), armed with 28 armored vehicles, small arms and anti-tank weapons ^[14] ;
• air force - 200 military personnel, 23 aircraft and 20 helicopters ^[14] ;
• naval forces - 300 military personnel and 8 patrol boats ^[14] .

As a result of the US military operation, the Panama armed forces ceased to exist, after the end of hostilities the Panamanian army was disarmed, and their weapons were stored under the protection of US soldiers. Subsequently, the destruction of the seized weapons began. According to official data from the US Department of State, a total of 77 553 firearms were destroyed in the country by the end of 1991 ^[15] .

On February 10, 1990, Panama’s President Guillermo Endara announced the disbandment of the armed forces ^[16] .

In October 1994, the Legislative Assembly passed a law banning the creation of the armed forces and the creation of “civilian security forces” ( Fuerza Pública de la República de Panamá ).

On 7 October 1998, Panama acceded to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention .

In April 2010, the Ministry of Public Security ( Ministerio de Seguridad Pública ) was created, to which all armed militias were subordinate ^[17] .

As of 2011, the military budget was $ 230 million. There were no armed forces, the total number of armed paramilitary groups was 12 thousand people ^[18] .

• National police : 11 thousand people (one battalion of the presidential guard, one battalion and 8 companies of the military police, 18 companies of the police and special forces)
• Aviation service : 400 people, armed with several light and transport aircraft (five CASA C-212M , six T-35D "Pillán", one BN-2B , one PA-34 , one Cessna 172 , one Cessna 152 ), and also helicopters (one S-76C , thirteen UH-1H , six Bell 212 and two Bell 205 ) ^[18]
• Maritime service : 600 people, 5 large and 13 small patrol boats, as well as 9 auxiliary ships and boats ^[18]

• since 2000, the professional day of the National Police of Panama has been “Police Day” (“El Día del Policía”).

• K. S. Tarasov. USA and Latin America: military-political and military-economic cooperation. M., 1972

• POLICIA NACIONAL DE PANAMÁ - official website of the National Police of Panama
• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (information on the supply of weapons and military equipment )