
The United States and 16 partner nations with a total of about 500 military and civilian personnel began the annual PANAMAX 2014 exercise on Friday. The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)-sponsored multinational exercise focuses on defending the Panama Canal and protecting safe passage of commercial traffic. The exercise also brings in responses to natural disasters and pandemic outbreaks in various locations. The exercise takes place Aug. 8-14, concluding the day before celebrations in Panama, marking the centennial of the opening of…