The United States invasion of Panama deposes Manuel Noriega.

The United States invasion of Panama, code-named Operation Just Cause, took place in December 1989 and resulted in the removal of Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega from power. The operation was initiated under President George H. W. Bush, citing reasons such as safeguarding U.S. citizens in Panama, defending democracy, combating drug trafficking, and ensuring the integrity of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties that governed control of the Panama Canal. The invasion saw a swift deployment of around 27,000 U.S. troops alongside 300 aircraft, overwhelming Panamanian Defense Forces. Noriega, who had been indicted in the U.S. for drug trafficking and implicated in suppressing democratic elections, eventually sought refuge in the Vatican Embassy before surrendering in early January 1990. His removal marked a significant assertion of U.S. military power and faced international criticism for violating Panamanian sovereignty, though it ushered in a transition to a democratically elected government in Panama.