Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is heading to Panama for a diplomatic visit focused on strengthening military and security ties with the Central American region. He will hold separate meetings with Panama's President José Raúl Mulino and senior Colombian officials, marking a continuation of high-level defence engagement in the area following his previous visit to the country.

The trip represents part of a broader US strategy to expand defence partnerships across Central and South America, with particular emphasis on regional security challenges. Hegseth's scheduled remarks at a counter-narcotics event underscores the shared focus on combating drug trafficking and related criminal activities that affect the hemisphere.