Branches: note--the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) ceased to exist as a military institution shortly after the United States invaded Panama on 20 December 1989; President Endara is attempting to restructure the forces into a civilian police service under the new name of Panamanian Public Forces (PPF); a Council of Public Security and National Defense under Menalco Solis in the office of the president coordinates the activities of the security forces; the Institutional Protection Service under Carlos Bares is attached to the presidency

Manpower availability: males 15-49, 644,895; 444,522 fit for military service; no conscription

Defense expenditures: $75.5 million, 1.5% of GDP (1990)

NOTE: The information regarding Panama on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Panama Defense Forces 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Panama Defense Forces 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.