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	SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Panama, Colombia
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        <h1 class="title">SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Panama, Colombia</h1>
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            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2023/Jul/24/2003265783/1920/1080/0/230721-N-RL456-1348.JPG"
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                 alt="Gen. Laura Richardson, Commander U.S. Southern Command, speaks to the crew aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS New York (LPD 21) during UNITAS LXIV, July 21, 2023."
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            <div class="image-caption">CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA (July 21, 2023) - Gen. Laura Richardson, Commander U.S. Southern Command, speaks to the crew aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS New York (LPD 21) during UNITAS LXIV, July 21, 2023. UNITAS is the world’s longest-running maritime exercise. Hosted this year by Colombia, it brings together multinational forces from 20 partner nations, including 26 warships/vessels, three submarines, 25 aircraft (fixed wing/helicopter) and approximately 7,000 people. The exercise trains forces in joint maritime operations that enhance tactical proficiency and increase interoperability with the presence of unmanned air, surface, and submarine systems. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hunter S. Harwell)</div>
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                 alt="Gen. Laura Richardson, Commander U.S. Southern Command, delivers remarks at the closing ceremony of UNITAS LXIV (64), July 21, 2023."
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            <div class="image-caption">CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA (July 21, 2023) - Gen. Laura Richardson, Commander U.S. Southern Command, delivers remarks at the closing ceremony of UNITAS LXIV (64), July 21, 2023. UNITAS is the world’s longest-running maritime exercise. Hosted this year by Colombia, it brings together multinational forces from 20 partner nations, including 26 warships/vessels, three submarines, 25 aircraft (fixed wing/helicopter) and approximately 7,000 people. The exercise trains forces in joint maritime operations that enhance tactical proficiency and increase interoperability with the presence of unmanned air, surface, and submarine systems. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hunter S. Harwell)</div>
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                 alt="Gen. Laura Richardson, Commander, U.S. Southern Command, receives a gift during UNITAS LXIV, July 21, 2023. UNITAS is the world’s longest-running maritime exercise."
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            <div class="image-caption">CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA (July 21, 2023) - Gen. Laura Richardson, Commander, U.S. Southern Command, receives a gift during UNITAS LXIV, July 21, 2023. UNITAS is the world’s longest-running maritime exercise. Hosted this year by Colombia, it brings together multinational forces from 20 partner nations, including 26 warships/vessels, three submarines, 25 aircraft (fixed wing/helicopter) and approximately 7,000 people. The exercise trains forces in joint maritime operations that enhance tactical proficiency and increase interoperability with the presence of unmanned air, surface, and submarine systems. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hunter S. Harwell)</div>
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                 alt="Group photo of senior leaders following a meeting with Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo and Secretary of Commerce, Hon. Gina Raimondo, in Panama July 20."
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            <div class="image-title">Gen. Richardson visits Panama</div>
            <div class="image-caption">PANAMA (July 20, 2023) -- Group photo of senior leaders following a meeting with Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo and Secretary of Commerce, Hon. Gina Raimondo, in Panama July 20. The commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, accompanied U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Hon. Gina Raimondo, during the visit to Panama. (Photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Panama)</div>
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            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2023/Jul/21/2003265456/1920/1080/0/230720-A-BS728-1001.JPG"
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                 alt="Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo and Secretary of Commerce, Hon. Gina Raimondo, meet in Panama July 20."
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            <div class="image-title">Gen. Richardson visits Panama</div>
            <div class="image-caption">PANAMA (July 20, 2023) -- Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo and Secretary of Commerce, Hon. Gina Raimondo, meet in Panama July 20. The commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, accompanied U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Hon. Gina Raimondo, during the visit to Panama. (Photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Panama)</div>
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                 alt="The commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, accompanies U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Hon. Gina Raimondo, during a visit to the Panama Canal and Miraflores locks."
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            <div class="image-title">Gen. Richardson visits Panama</div>
            <div class="image-caption">PANAMA (July 20, 2023) -- The commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, accompanies U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Hon. Gina Raimondo, during a visit to the Panama Canal and Miraflores locks. Secretary Raimondo visited Panama to meet with senior leaders to o reaffirm both nations strong bilateral trade and economic ties. (Photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Panama)</div>
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    <div> <span class="date">/ Published July 24, 2023</span></div>
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    <p>MIAMI -- The commander of U.S. Southern Command, <a href="https://www.southcom.mil/About/Leadership/Bio-Article-View/Article/2821915/gen-laura-j-richardson/" target="_blank">U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson</a>, met with Panamanian and Colombian leaders during official visits to each nation July 19 – 21.</p>

<p>During the visit to Panama, Richardson accompanied U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Hon. Gina Raimondo as the secretary met with senior Panamanian leaders July 20.</p>

<p>Secretary Raimondo met with President Laurentino Cortizo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Janaina Tewaney Mencomo, and Minister of Commerce and Industry Federico Alfaro to reaffirm both nations strong bilateral trade and economic ties. <a href="https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2023/07/readout-secretary-raimondos-meeting-panamanian-president-laurentino" target="_blank">See more</a>.</p>

<p>In Colombia, the general visited with U.S. and multinational forces participating in the UNITAS LXIV multinational maritime training exercise, including a visit to USS New York (LPD 21). The exercise, hosted by Colombia this year, includes forces from the United States and 19 nations. More than 7,000 personnel, 26 warships/vessels, three submarines, 25 aircraft took part in the nearly two-week exercise. Additionally, Colombia’s Navy celebrated its bicentennial anniversary, commemorating 200 years of the country’s maritime forces.</p>

<p>“Each of us wear a separate flag on our uniform. We represent a separate entity. We come together because individually we are strong, but together we are invincible,” said Richardson at the UNITAS closing ceremony July 21.</p>

<p>“When we come together for an exercise, we work through translation, we work through operations, we synchronize our maritime effects, we synchronize our air domain, our cyber domain, cyberspace. We bring it all together.”</p>
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