History of Manuel Noriega

Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno was a Panamanian political and military figure whose life and career were intertwined with the complexities of Cold War geopolitics, the drug trade, and Central American politics in the late 20th century. As a military leader and de facto head of state, Noriega’s influence peaked during the 1980s before a dramatic fall from power, which included significant international controversies and a unique relationship with the United States.

Noriega was born on February 11, 1934, in Panama City, Panama. His early life was marked by poverty, leading to an ambition for wealth and power. He was a scholarship student and trained at the Chorrillos Military School in Lima, Peru. This education and a brief stint in the United States, where he received additional military training at the School of the Americas, primed him for a prominent role in Panamanian military and political life.

Noriega's rise to power began under the auspices of Omar Torrijos. Torrijos, who became Panama's de facto leader after a military coup in 1968, saw potential in Noriega and appointed him as the chief of military intelligence in 1970. Under Torrijos, Noriega built a reputation as his close confidant and built connections with American intelligence. Following Torrijos's death in a plane crash in 1981, Noriega quickly ascended the ranks to become the head of the Panamanian National Guard. By 1983, he had consolidated sufficient power to declare himself the military leader of Panama, effectively ruling the country through a puppet civilian government.

Noriega's governance was marked by a complex duality in his relationship with the United States. On one hand, he collaborated closely with the CIA and other American agencies. He provided valuable intelligence on the leftist movements in Central America, which aligned with U.S. interests during the Cold War. He even supported the Contras in Nicaragua on behalf of the United States. On the other hand, Noriega was deeply involved in illicit activities, notably the drug trade, which increasingly strained his relationship with his American allies.

Noriega utilized Panama's strategic position to engage in profitable undertakings with drug cartels, offering them a haven for their operations. His involvement became a grave concern for the U.S. government, particularly as evidence mounted of his connection to major cartels, including Pablo Escobar's Medellín Cartel. His dual role as ally and adversary led to tension with the United States by the mid-1980s, especially as his autocratic style of governance drew international criticism.

The turning point for Noriega's rule came with the election crisis of 1989, where accusations of electoral fraud in Panama further damaged his legitimacy. The tensions culminated in Operation Just Cause, implemented by the United States in December of that year. The operation was a full-scale invasion aimed at deposing Noriega under the guise of protecting American citizens, restoring democracy in Panama, and halting Noriega’s drug activities.

Noriega sought asylum in the Vatican diplomatic mission in Panama City but eventually surrendered to U.S. authorities in January 1990. His trial in Miami was a significant media event where he faced charges including drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering. In 1992, he was convicted and sentenced to 40 years in prison, though this sentence was later reduced to 30 years.

While serving his sentence in the United States, Noriega remained a figure of intrigue, particularly concerning his years as an informant and operative for American intelligence services. His incarceration in the U.S. was followed by legal battles as both Panama and France sought his extradition on further charges. In 2010, after serving time in the U.S., he was extradited to France where he faced money laundering charges. Convicted in France, Noriega continued to grapple with international and national justice systems.

In 2011, Noriega was extradited back to Panama to serve time in his native country for crimes including embezzlement, corruption, and murder, stemming from his military rule. His health deteriorated over time, and in March 2017, he underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor. After complications from the surgery, Manuel Noriega died on May 29, 2017, in Panama City.

Noriega's legacy is a complex one, representing the volatile intersection of Cold War politics, the U.S. foreign policy in Latin America, and the pervasive influence of the drug trade in international relations. His life exemplified how geopolitical interests during the Cold War often led to morally ambiguous alliances and underscored the unpredictable nature of autocratic regimes in Latin America during that era. Noriega's fall from power illustrated the shifting priorities in American foreign policy as the Cold War ended and highlighted the intricate and often contradictory nature of global political allegiances.