What Happened
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and the destroyer USS Gridley will arrive in Panama on Sunday, March 29, and remain in Panamanian waters through Thursday, April 2, the U.S. Southern Command said. The Nimitz will be anchored in open waters while the Gridley will berth at the Amador Cruise Terminal in Panama City.
Details of the Vessels and Air Wing
The USS Nimitz, in service since 1968 and commissioned in 1972, can carry up to 90 aircraft — a mix of fixed-wing planes and helicopters — and measures about 333 meters long, roughly equivalent to three football fields. The carrier displaces around 100,000 tons and is described as one of the world’s largest carriers. Together with the USS Gridley and accompanying ships, the units can carry about 6,000 personnel.
The attacking group assigned to the carrier includes DESRON 9, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 and the USS Gridley. CVW-17 comprises six squadrons that operate F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters, EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, C-2A Greyhound logistics planes and MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopters. Squadrons listed for the deployment include HSM-73, HSC-6, VRC-40, VFA-22, VFA-137 and VAQ-139.
Background: Southern Seas 2026 and Regional Route
The visit to Panama is part of the Southern Seas 2026 deployment. The task group departed the U.S. West Coast on March 12 and will transit the Strait of Magellan as it repositions to a new East Coast homeport by June 20. The itinerary includes port calls or operations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Uruguay, with specific port stops planned for Brazil, Chile, Panama and Jamaica, according to the official release.
U.S. Southern Command framed the deployment as a multilateral training and engagement mission. Rear Admiral Carlos Sardiello said the deployment “offers a unique opportunity to improve interoperability and increase proficiency with the forces of our partner countries in the maritime domain” and that such missions demonstrate a commitment to a secure and stable Western Hemisphere and to strengthening maritime partnerships.
What This Means for Panama
The presence of a U.S. carrier strike group in Panamanian waters will be visible in Panama City and at the Amador Cruise Terminal during the scheduled visit. Officials have highlighted Southern Seas as a recurring exercise — this is the 11th edition since 2007 — intended to build goodwill, enhance maritime partnerships and address shared maritime threats. The visit also aligns with U.S. strategic guidance: the 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy names the hemisphere as a priority in broader geopolitical planning.
For Panama, the port call is a high-profile international naval visit that underscores the country’s role as a regional hub and meeting point for multinational naval engagements in the Americas.