What were the reasons behind the US intervention in the 1989 US invasion of Panama?

The United States' invasion of Panama in 1989 was a military operation aimed at removing the country's military leader, Manuel Noriega. The invasion was the result of growing tensions between the United States and Panama over the country's role as a drug trafficking hub, as well as concerns over Noriega's political influence and his potential to harm U.S. interests in the region. The United States also saw the invasion as an opportunity to demonstrate its military power and commitment to protecting its interests in the Western Hemisphere.

The roots of the conflict between the United States and Panama date back to the early 1900s, when the United States gained control of the Panama Canal Zone as part of a treaty with Panama. The U.S. military used the canal as a strategic asset during the Cold War, and as a result, the United States maintained a significant military presence in Panama. However, tensions between the two countries increased in the 1980s, as the United States accused Noriega of supporting drug trafficking and the leftist guerrilla movement in El Salvador.

In 1988, Noriega was indicted on drug trafficking charges by a U.S. grand jury, and the United States began applying diplomatic pressure on him to step down from power. When Noriega annulled Panama's presidential election in May 1989, the United States saw it as an opportunity to take action against him. In December 1989, President George H.W. Bush ordered a military invasion of Panama, which quickly overthrew Noriega and installed a new government. The invasion was criticized by many as a violation of international law, but it was largely supported by the American public at the time.