PANAMA – Dr. Theresa Smith, acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports and Cooperation, alongside Brig. Gen. Jason Jefferis, commanding general for the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, recently concluded a comprehensive visit to Panama to advance defense cooperation, maritime domain awareness, and joint regional security efforts alongside Panamanian and interagency partners.
Throughout the visit, Dr. Smith and Brig. Gen. Jefferis held high-level discussions with Felipe Luis Icaza, Panama’s Vice Minister of Public Security, Panamanian Comandante Aeronaval Luis Antonio De Gracia, director general of the National Aeronaval Service, and key U.S. stakeholders, including the U.S. Embassy, the Military Group (MILGRP), the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and the newly formed Joint Security Cooperation Group.
ASAE key mission milestones centered on strengthening strategic readiness and security capabilities across the Panamanian region.
“The Army Security Assistance Enterprise remains deeply committed to collaborating with Panama's leadership to address shared security challenges and enhance regional stability,” said Dr. Smith. “Through robust partnership, capacity building, and shared cooperation, we are working together to develop sustainable capabilities that safeguard our nations. This enduring alliance serves as a cornerstone for a safer, more resilient, and prosperous Western Hemisphere.”
Dr. Smith, also the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Sustainment, chatted with the Panamanian delegation about the importance of ensuring equipment provided to warfighters is robust, reliable, and supportable throughout its entire lifespan.
“By proactively safeguarding critical supply chains and optimizing the defense industrial base, we ensure that the equipment and systems we provide to Panama and others in the Western Hemisphere remain resilient against emerging threats,” she said. “Ultimately, these synchronized functions guarantee that sustainable, highly reliable capabilities are delivered to warfighters when and where they need them.”
Social Sharing