PANAMA
CANAL TREATY TRANSITION
(OCTOBER
1, 1979 - DECEMBER 31, 1999)
UNITED STATES MILITARY'S ROLE IN IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE
PANAMA CANAL TREATIES
AND
THEIR
IMPACT ON THE U.S. MILITARY
OVERVIEW
The signing
of the Panama Canal Treaties on September 7, 1977, established a
new relationship between the United States and the Republic of
Panama and modified the procedures for operation and defense of
the Panama Canal. It also presented a unique challenge to the U.S.
military in Panama which had to adjust quickly to newly assigned
missions brought about by the treaty and to a new working
relationship all the while carrying out its many missions,
including the defense and protection of the Panama Canal.
Under the Panama Canal
Treaty of 1977 (which entered into force October 1, 1979) the
United States had primary responsibility for the canal's defense
during the life of the Panama Canal Treaty. At the end of 1999 in
accordance with the Treaty the
U.S. military presence in Panama ceased. A status of forces agreement (which
was actually the Agreement in Implementation of Article IV of the
Panama Canal Treaty covered the activities, presence, and rights of the U.S.
military forces in Panama during the 20-year treaty transition
period. The United States continued to have
access to and the right to use certain land and water areas and
installations necessary for the defense of the canal during the
treaty period, that is, through December 1999.
Under the accompanying
neutrality
treaty (as amended by the U.S. Senate prior to ratification), Panama and the United States will provide indefinitely for
the permanent neutrality of the canal, including nondiscriminatory
access and tolls for merchant and naval vessels of all nations.
U.S. and Panamanian warships (Panama has no military nor such
vessels since 1990) are entitled to
expeditious passage through the canal at all times.
The U.S. military's role in
implementation of the Panama Canal Treaty entailed a long process
(entirely new in 1977-1979); a process not fully understood or
appreciated by the general public both in Panama and the United
States. For that reason, the following sections
provide a general understanding of that process and activities
which marked a departure from the preceding seven decades of U.S.
military presence in Panama. The pages of this section
expand on the following activities and features of the
impact of the treaties on the U.S. military.
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U.S.
Military Role in Initial Panama Canal Treaty
Implementation (1977- 1984) |
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Assumption
of Community-Support Functions -- Transfer of
several community functions to the Department of Defense
that had been conducted by the Canal Zone Government or by
the former Panama Canal Company up to September 30, 1979. |
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Panama
Canal Treaty Designations for U.S. Military Installations
-- Treaty
characterization of all bases, facilities, and land
controlled by the U.S. Forces as Defense Sites or various
types of Military Areas of Coordination. |
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Status
of Forces Agreement for U.S. Military in Panama
-- Actually the Agreement in Implementation of Article
IV of the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 which regulated the
activities of the personnel associated with the U.S.
Forces in Panama and ensured the basic rights of the U.S.
Forces community residing in Panama. |
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U.S.
Military Role in Continued Panama Canal Treaty
Implementation (1986-1999) |
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Initial
Planning |
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Major
Challenges |
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Panama
Political Crisis (1985-1989) Affected Continued Treaty
Implementation Planning |
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Suspension
of Continued Treaty Implementation
Planning in 1989
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Planning
resumed with revised guidance in 1990
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Final
Treaty Implementation Plan approved in 1992
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Governing
Treaty Implementation Planning guidance
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Working
with Panama
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Military
Bases/Property Transfers Resumed
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Military
Property Transfer Process |
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Treaty
Language on Property Transfers
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Environmental
Considerations
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Training
Ranges
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Range Transfer Program
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Information
Sharing
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Range Clearing Efforts
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Compensation
for Residual Value
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Summary
of Major Property Transfers (1993-1999)
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Drawdown
of Military Forces |
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Endnotes
and Sources |
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Summary
of Military Property Transfers and Forces Drawdown |
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U.S.
Military Property Transfers to Panama Under Panama
Canal Treaty Implementation (1979-1999)
-- Summary descriptions of each military property
transfered , what transferred, and new uses by Panama |
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Military
Forces Drawdown and Departure from Panama (1994-1999) |
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Summary
of Military Related Treaty Transition Milestones (1979-1999)
(UNDER
CONSTRUCTION) |
__________________________________
Sources:
Drawn from the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and its Agreement in
Implementation of Article IV and from fact sheets prepared by
William Ormsbee (1977-1997) disseminated to Panamanian, U.S., regional, and international news
media visiting Panama; also from documents and fact sheets
prepared by the U.S. Southern Command's Treaty Implementation
Directorate.
This section was originally
published on WHO's first website IN RETROSPECT in December
1999 and later transferred to this website.
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