U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), located in Doral, Florida in Greater Miami, is one of 11 Unified Combatant Commands in the U.S. Department of Defense. It is responsible for providing contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation in Central and South America, the Caribbean (except U.S. commonwealths, territories, and possessions), their territorial waters, and for the force protection of U.S. military resources at these locations. SOUTHCOM is also responsible for ensuring the defense of the Panama Canal and the canal area.