United States Marines will hold a joint training exercise in the Panamanian jungle with local security forces to "strengthen regional security," Panama's government said Tuesday as tensions rise between nearby Venezuela and Washington.

The exercise will take place from October 9 to 29 and involve 50 Marines, who will travel to Panama aboard a US transport plane, Panama's ministry for public security said.

Panama does not have its own army. Its security forces are made up of the police, border police and coastguard.

The security ministry said the training aimed to "increase interoperability, improve capabilities, and strengthen regional security in one of the most demanding environments on the planet."

The announcement comes amid fears of a US attack in Venezuela, which lies around 500

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