Manuel Antonio Noriega

Manuel Antonio Noriega was a Panamanian military leader and politician who served as the de facto ruler of Panama from the late 1980s. Originally an ally of the U.S. during the Cold War, he was later accused of drug trafficking, money laundering, and human rights abuses. His control was marked by corruption and authoritarianism. In 1989, the U.S. invaded Panama, deposed Noriega, and brought him to the United States for trial. He was convicted of drug trafficking and served time in prison. Noriega’s rule and removal significantly impacted Panama’s political history and U.S.-Latin America relations.