Southern command Canal zone panama.

The Southern Command, headquartered in the Canal Zone, Panama, was a major United States military command responsible for American defense interests in Central and South America. Established in 1917 as the Panama Canal Department, its primary mission was to safeguard the strategically vital Panama Canal. During World War II, the command played a crucial role in defending the Canal against potential Axis threats and supporting hemispheric security. In 1963, it was redesignated as United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), continuing operations in Panama until its relocation to Miami, Florida, in 1997 following the implementation of the Panama Canal Treaties.