Under the leadership of General Manuel Antonio Noriega, Panama had been plagued in the 1980s by massive corruption related to the government's active involvement in drug smuggling in Central America. This corruption progressively disrupted ordinary economic activity and fostered a climate of fear and anxiety in Panama. In a resolution issued on December 15, 1989, the National Assembly of Panama declared that a state of war existed with the United States. Shortly afterward, members of the Panama Defense Forces (PDF) shot three American officers, one of whom died. In response, on December 17, 1989, President George H. W. Bush ordered the invasion of Panama, called Operation Just Cause, which began on December 20, 1989. At 1 a.m. local time, the U.S. military attacked key targets in Panama to destroy Noriega's authoritarian and brutal regime The purpose of this military action, which involved 22,000 soldiers, 3,400 airmen, 900 Marines, and 700 sailors, was to remove General Noriega, who was the head of the PDF, and restore democratic governance to Panama. Although this “war” was over within hours, it took almost two weeks to capture Noriega.

In an address to the nation on the morning of the invasion, President Bush said the goals of the United States were “to protect the lives of American citizens in Panama and to bring General Noriega to justice in the United States.”