US soldiers train in Panamanian jungle amid tensions with Venezuela

(Patria) - The US military conducted small jungle survival and combat drills on the Panamanian Caribbean coast on Wednesday, as Washington amassed forces off the coast of Venezuela, AFP reported.

Under the scorching sun, a dozen US Marines armed with assault rifles simulated an attack on a bunker at the former US base Fort Sherman near the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal.

The facilities now serve as a training ground for US Marines and Panamanian police as part of a cooperation program launched in August.

Panama announced that about fifty US Marines would train from October 9 to 29 in its jungle to improve their skills "in one of the most challenging environments".

"This training is exclusively focused on our defense and protection" in the fight against "organized crime and drug trafficking," Panamanian Major Didier Santamaria told AFP.

A similar course in August was "focused only on survival. This one adds some tactics and
jungle tracking," said US Colonel Ada Cotto. The mission is to "create knowledge and mutual relationships" that can be shared "for both countries," she said.

The drills are taking place amid tensions between the United States and Venezuela, whose President Nicolas Maduro accuses Washington of planning to overthrow him.

Washington has sent several warships and thousands of soldiers to the Caribbean region.
Cotto denied any connection between the US drills and plans for intervention in Venezuela.

"We are not preparing for anything," she said when asked if the training was related to the Venezuelan crisis.

"Everything is transparent and at the request of the Panamanian government," she added.

The agreement was signed under pressure from US President Donald Trump, who threatened to take control of the Panama Canal, refusing to rule out the use of force.