About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, but the White House is considering changes to that military footprint.
Panama's president has denied claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that America is literally retaking the canal.
The commander's comments come amid concerns from Congress that the Pentagon is considering reducing the number of U.S. troops on the continent.
Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield represented the U.S. in NATO's Military Commission, the alliance's leading military board.
