U.S. Invasion of Panama 1989: Foreign Policy, Media Coverage, and Human Rights Violations

Introduction

Countries’ foreign policy is complex and can often be ambiguous. For example, the United States military forces’ invasion of Panama in December 1989 involved controversial events and cover-ups of actual events (rtxyz1, 2014).

The Purpose of the U.S. Invasion of Panama

The official goal of the attack was the removal from power of the country’s de facto leader at that time, General Manuel Noriega, who initially gained influence due to his connection with U.S. intelligence (rtxyz1, 2014). The general was accused of ties to drug trafficking, and for his capture, the invasion concentrated in several areas of Panama City, Santa Ana, and El Chorrillo. Despite the officially stated goal and media reports of minimal destruction, the invasion was necessary to protect American control of the strategically important Panama Canal and led to severe damage to the country and its inhabitants.

The invasion had significant adverse consequences, including destruction and casualties. It is worth noting that the American Congress did not declare war. The president applied the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which allows the use of military force in case of urgency and attack directed against the United States (rtxyz1, 2014). However, criticism indicates that the reason for the invasion was not an attack or threat but fear of the loss of U.S. control over the Panama Canal (rtxyz1, 2014). The use of a false reason underlines the injustice of invasion.

Military Technology Used in the U.S. Invasion of Panama

During the operation, the military used various weapons, including ground and air forces and artillery, resulting in losses and human rights violations. There were numerous civilian casualties, their homes were destroyed, and illegal arrests took place (rtxyz1, 2014). The media covered up these violations and the scale of destruction to preserve support for government actions.

Despite all efforts, the outcomes are ambiguous – the official goal of overthrowing Noriega was achieved. Still, many victims worsened the image of the United States and its ties with Latin American countries (rtxyz1, 2014). Therefore, criticism of the operation in Panama has significant ground, emphasizing the importance of a critical view of world events.

Conclusion

Thus, the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989 became a foreign policy event that received much criticism. The stated goal did not correspond to the real one, nor was it the representation of the events in the media. Using significant military force, the U.S. violated human rights and caused many deaths and destruction. Although the official goal of the operation was achieved, it also had negative consequences for relations between the countries.

Reference

rtxyz1. (2014). The Panama deception [Video]. YouTube. Web.

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DemoEssays. (2025, July 22). U.S. Invasion of Panama 1989: Foreign Policy, Media Coverage, and Human Rights Violations. https://demoessays.com/u-s-invasion-of-panama-1989-foreign-policy-media-coverage-and-human-rights-violations/

Work Cited

"U.S. Invasion of Panama 1989: Foreign Policy, Media Coverage, and Human Rights Violations." DemoEssays, 22 July 2025, demoessays.com/u-s-invasion-of-panama-1989-foreign-policy-media-coverage-and-human-rights-violations/.

References

DemoEssays. (2025) 'U.S. Invasion of Panama 1989: Foreign Policy, Media Coverage, and Human Rights Violations'. 22 July.

References

DemoEssays. 2025. "U.S. Invasion of Panama 1989: Foreign Policy, Media Coverage, and Human Rights Violations." July 22, 2025. https://demoessays.com/u-s-invasion-of-panama-1989-foreign-policy-media-coverage-and-human-rights-violations/.

1. DemoEssays. "U.S. Invasion of Panama 1989: Foreign Policy, Media Coverage, and Human Rights Violations." July 22, 2025. https://demoessays.com/u-s-invasion-of-panama-1989-foreign-policy-media-coverage-and-human-rights-violations/.


Bibliography


DemoEssays. "U.S. Invasion of Panama 1989: Foreign Policy, Media Coverage, and Human Rights Violations." July 22, 2025. https://demoessays.com/u-s-invasion-of-panama-1989-foreign-policy-media-coverage-and-human-rights-violations/.