For the first time in over two decades, U.S. military personnel have resumed jungle training in Panama. The revived Combined Jungle Operations Training Course (CJOTC) is a joint effort to strengthen ties and build capabilities, drawing on a legacy that dates back to 1916. The training, historically known as the "Green Hell" for its harsh conditions similar to those in Vietnam, focuses on real-time interoperability, survival techniques, and shared tactics. U.S. service members work alongside their Panamanian counterparts, learning skills like foraging and navigating dense tropical forests. "If you can train and fight in one of the most difficult and challenging locations in the world, you build a really lethal, effective force," a defense official stated. This renewed cooperation comes amid regional tensions, particularly with Venezuela, whose president, Nicolás Maduro, responded to the military buildup by singing John Lennon's 'Imagine' in a call for peace, accusing the U.S. of seeking to trigger conflict.
