The United States invasion of Panama in 1989 overthrown the military dictatorship that ruled Panama from 1968 to 1989. A year later Panama abolished its army, the second country in Central America to do so.
Until the end of the 20th century, the United States had the right to operate the Panama Canal and maintained many military fortifications in the surrounding area. From 1903 to 1979, Panama Canal Zone was formally the United States territory.
