Pacific Air Forces is slated to kick off its seventh annual joint humanitarian assistance operation with Tonga on Monday by sending approximately 65 US service members to the country. As part of Operation Pacific Angel-Tonga, they will work alongside Tonga’s military force to help provide “general health, dental, optometry, pediatrics, and engineering programs” during the six-day humanitarian operation, states a release. Led by Pacific Air Forces, Operation PACANGEL helps “improve and build relationships in the event of future humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts” and “supports US Pacific Command’s capacity-building,” states the release.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
