Inside Trump’s Aggressive Military Buildup in Panama

Taking advantage of terrain teeming with pit vipers, boa constrictors and swarms of biting flies, the US military is reviving its jungle training school in Panama after a 25-year hiatus. The lessons on rainforest survival, medical evacuations and patrols handed down to soldiers, sailors and Marines have taken on new significance as Donald Trump issues veiled threats of additional military action across Latin America following his surprise attack on Venezuela earlier this year. Learn more: Trump’s Aggressive Military Buildup in Panama Is Keeping Latin America on Edge https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-05-05/trump-s-military-buildup-in-panama-puts-latin-america-on-edge Trump is pursuing "American dominance" in the region with the biggest-ever buildup of US troops. The mission — a joint exercise with Panamanian forces — is meant to bolster readiness for jungle combat. The stakes have been raised since Trump revealed a security strategy late last year that he insists will ensure “American dominance in the Western Hemisphere.” He’s floated the idea of attacking clandestine drug labs, pushed for regime change in Cuba and mulled taking back the Panama Canal by force. #Panama #Trump #Military -------- Like this video? Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/Bloomberg?sub_confirmation=1 Get unlimited access to Bloomberg.com for just $1.99 your first month: https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions?in_source=YoutubeOriginals Bloomberg Originals offers bold takes for curious minds on today’s biggest topics. Hosted by experts covering stories you haven’t seen and viewpoints you haven’t heard, you’ll discover cinematic, data-led shows that investigate the intersection of business and culture. Exploring every angle of climate change, technology, finance, sports and beyond, Bloomberg Originals is business as you’ve never seen it. Subscribe for business news, but not as you've known it: exclusive interviews, fascinating profiles, data-driven analysis, and the latest in tech innovation from around the world. Visit our partner channel Bloomberg News for global news and insight in an instant.