CENTAM Guardian 2026: Interoperability in Action

Military personnel and security forces from across the region gathered in El Salvador for CENTAM Guardian 2026, held April 16-27, 2026, a multinational exercise focused on strengthening readiness, interoperability, and cooperation in response to shared security and emergency challenges. Through joint training ranging from combat operations to humanitarian response, participating forces reinforced the partnerships and operational coordination that remain essential to regional security. The following images offer a sample of some of the activities carried out during the exercise. U.S. Army Green Berets from 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) train side by side with soldiers of the Salvadoran Special Antiterrorist Group (CEAT) during CENTAM Guardian 26, in Ilopango, El Salvador, April 18, 2026. (Photo: Joint Task Force-Bravo/Facebook)

Specialized teams conduct a rescue drill in a scenario of collapsed structures caused by an earthquake as part of CENTAM Guardian 2026, in Ilopango, El Salvador, April 23, 2026. (Photo: U.S. Embassy in El Salvador/X)

Members of the Search and Rescue Unit of the Salvadoran Red Cross participate with K-9 units in CENTAM Guardian 2026, contributing specialized capabilities and strengthening the search component in collapse structures, in Ilopango, El Salvador, April 21, 2026. (Photo: Salvadoran Red Cross/X)

Members of the U.S. Marine Corps and the Salvadoran Navy First Marine Infantry Brigade conduct parachute jumps, as part of multinational exercise CENTAM Guardian 2026, in Ilopango, El Salvador, April 23, 2026. (Photo: El Salvador’s Minister of Defense René Francis Merino Monroy/Facebook)

Participants conduct casualty evacuation training aboard a Black Hawk helicopter, strengthening response capabilities in critical situations, as part of multinational exercise CENTAM Guardian 2026, in Ilopango, El Salvador, April 18, 2026. (Photo: El Salvador Minister of Defense René Francis Merino Monroy/Facebook)

Salvadoran soldiers train in room clearing tactics with U.S. Army National Guardsmen assigned to the 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry Regiment, during CENTAM Guardian 2026 in Chalatenango, El Salvador, April 18, 2026. (Photo: U.S. Army Private First Class James Hernandez)

Service members from participating nations stand in formation during the opening ceremony of CENTAM Guardian 2026 in Ilopango, El Salvador, April 16, 2026. (Salvadoran Armed Forces/X)