Name: U.S. invasion of Panama still resonates across Latin America
Uploaded: 2026-01-05T09:46:48.947Z
Duration: 2 min 44 s
Description: Before attacking Panama, the US indicted Noriega for drug smuggling in Miami in 1988, just as it has targeted Maduro.

Before attacking Panama, the US indicted Noriega for drug smuggling in Miami in 1988, just as it has targeted Maduro.

Panama Canal

In 1989, the United States launched a large-scale military invasion of Panama to capture General Manuel Noriega, who was accused of drug trafficking and other crimes. Over 27,000 U.S. troops participated in the operation, which also aimed to restore democracy and secure the Panama Canal. The invasion resulted in significant destruction, particularly in the El Chorrillo neighborhood, and the number of casualties remains disputed, with human rights groups claiming higher figures than official U.S. estimates.

The event is remembered as one of the largest U.S. military actions in Latin America since the Cold War and continues to resonate in the region. Many Panamanians view the invasion as traumatic, and it is widely seen across Latin America as a symbol of U.S. interventionism. Comparisons have been drawn between the Panama operation and more recent U.S. rhetoric regarding Venezuela.

U.S. invasion of Panama still resonates across Latin America

The last United States intervention in Latin America prior to the attacks on Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro happened here in Panama. In 1989, the United States invaded this country to capture General Manuel Noriega. Just like Maduro, he was accused of drug trafficking, but also money laundering and persecuting political opponents. Over 27,000 US troops launched an operation across the country to detain Noriega, but also restore democracy and protect the Panama Canal, a crucial trade route which has always been a priority for the US government. It was one of the largest US military actions in Latin America since the Cold War. After the United States invaded the country, General Manuel Noriega sought refuge in that building that you can see right there, which was at the time the Vatican Embassy. The United States played very loud music and used other psychological warfare tactics to get him to leave the building and surrender. He finally did, on January 3rd, 1990. He was flown to the US, tried and imprisoned. He died in 2017. There is no official figure of how many people were killed. The US says around 200 civilians and around 300 members of the military. But human rights groups say the figure is much higher. Many of them come from El Chorrillo, the neighbourhood where Noriega's general command was located. The area was largely destroyed by firebombing. Luis Carlos Mejia's father was killed during the invasion. He says his father was killed by mortars launched from US helicopters. Why did they have to destroy a community to detain one man? Noriega, they could have taken him. But no, they destroyed this area, a poor area, and they never took any responsibility for what they did. At the time, the United States described the invasion of Panama as a successful operation. It was quick, decisive and regime changing. The Trump administration is using similar words to describe the operation against Nicolás Maduro. But Venezuela is not Panama. The armed forces are stronger. The United States does not have soldiers on the ground. There's thousands of armed civilians who do not support a US intervention. For many people in Panama, the US invasions remains a traumatic experience. And for many people in Latin America, it symbolises US interventionism. Al Jazeera, Panama City.

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