JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
In preparation for this year’s PANAMAX multinational exercise and upcoming combined training, U.S. Army South hosted Brazilian army Maj. Gen. Marcos De Sá Affonso Da Costa, Brazilian director of training, and Maj. Gen. Josias Pedrotti Da Rosa, Brazilian army attaché to the United States, and their delegation at Army South headquarters, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Feb. 4.
PANAMAX will be held at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
PANAMAX is an annual U.S. Southern Command-sponsored training exercise series with the objective of demonstrating the capability of participating nations to conduct coalition operations and is focused on ensuring the security of the Panama Canal and the surrounding region.
During this visit, the Brazilian director of training met with Maj. Gen. Daniel Walrath, U.S. Army South commander, and other command leadership to discuss the Brazilian army's role in the coming exercise.
Walrath thanked the team for their commitment to the exercise, which will improve interoperability and strengthen the partnership between the U.S. and Brazilian armies.
The leaders continued their discussions at JRTC Feb. 5 where they ensured alignment of U.S. and Brazilian army priorities for a combined training rotation there in 2021.
The U.S. and Brazilian Armed Forces enjoy a longstanding relationship which includes a wide range of defense cooperation activities to improve readiness and interoperability.