In August 2024, Diálogo was present during the execution of biennial, multinational exercise PANAMAX. During the exercise, we spoke with Peruvian Air Force Major General Víctor Manuel Muñoz Curto, commander of the 6th Air Wing, who served as deputy commander of Multinational Force South for PANAMAX 24 and led the Peruvian delegation in the United States from Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. Maj. Gen. Muñoz highlighted the benefits of participating in the multinational exercise, among other topics.
Diálogo: Peru is leading the Multinational Force South (MNFS) together with the United States for this iteration of PANAMAX. What is the contribution of the Peruvian Armed Forces this year?
Peruvian Air Force Major General Víctor Manuel Muñoz Curto, deputy commander of Multinational Force South for PANAMAX 24: In this edition of PANAMAX we participated with 82 troops in the four components, and we are contributing a lot with the experience we have, not only from having participated in other international exercises, but also with the real experience we have from the various operations and military actions that we have been carrying out in Peru, in the VRAEM [Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers Valley] area, against some remnants of narcotraffickers in that region.
Diálogo: You have participated in several iterations of PANAMAX since 2013. How has the exercise evolved over the years, and what are some of the lessons learned that, in your experience, have strengthened not only the exercise, but interoperability among the participating forces?
Maj. Gen. Muñoz: The exercise over the years that I have taken part in has seen an increase in the number of participating countries. This is great. Additionally, it has made it so that most of the participating countries are more interested in the same doctrine for the use of military power. We have also been learning this type of doctrine throughout the planning conferences and at the beginning of the exercise through academics [events conducted in preparation of the exercise] provided by U.S. Southern Command and the personnel in charge of the exercise to participating countries. Among the lessons learned, it is really useful for all of us to learn a new type of doctrine to be able to work jointly with other countries of the region, under the same doctrinal guidelines. This enhances the interoperability of the countries working together, in a combined way. It allows us to standardize procedures that are already very common procedures among participating countries and, additionally, it creates and strengthens bonds of friendship among participating countries, especially the officers who not only participate in an exercise, but also have the possibility of meeting, sharing, and interacting even more with those officers from other forces and other countries.
Diálogo: In addition to PANAMAX, you have also participated in other regional and multinational exercises, including UNITAS, the largest and longest-running maritime exercise in the region. In your experience, why is it so important to continue to conduct these exercises with partner countries of the region?
Maj. Gen. Muñoz: I have participated in UNITAS as a pilot; I am a fighter pilot. I have flown various types of aircraft and fighters in my country. I have also participated in binational combined exercises such as PERCOL with Colombia, PERBRA with Brazil, and PERBOL with Bolivia. These are air interdiction exercises; and I’ve also participated in the planning and, in some cases, the conduct of the last exercise that we did this year, RESOLUTE SENTINEL 23 and also RESOLUTE SENTINEL 24. All of this improves the countries’ interoperability, allows for the creation of common procedures to be followed, and above all, allows us to develop and update our doctrine for the use of military power.
Diálogo: You have been a liaison officer at U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). Why is it important for partner nations in the Western Hemisphere to have the opportunity to have a representative at SOUTHCOM?
Maj. Gen. Muñoz: We have common threats. These common threats, such as narcotrafficking, terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, affect Peru as well as the United States. Having a liaison officer at SOUTHCOM allows a greater and more fluid interaction between both forces; thus, they are aware of all the actions, the military operations that we carry out locally in Peru. In addition to this, it allows us to generate mechanisms such as training, real operations that can occur at any given moment. The training helps a lot to be updated in everything that is the doctrine and the mode of employment of air power in the region against common threats.
