TRADEWINDS 2023, a Caribbean security exercise sponsored by the U.S. Southern Command, will be conducted for the third time in Guyana, from July 14 to 28, 2023.

This time, instead of focusing solely on traditional security type training, this year’s exercise will include two humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, according to Major Jaime Castello of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), during a press briefing at the Ramada Princess Hotel, on Monday.

The two operations, he said, will be an oil spill scenario led by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and a flood scenario in Kwakwani.

For the oil spill, the focus will be on the Berbice River, where they intend to have practical exercises during those operations.

Military representatives from the United States and 23 partner nations are participating in the final planning conference for the Tradewinds exercise.

Each of the training exercises at the various locations will provide opportunities to conduct joint, inter-agency capacity building opportunities for the partner nations, with a focus on regional co-operation, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response operations.

Major Castello said there is no doubt that the exercise will be fruitful, since Guyana, in 2021, hosted a successful Tradewinds exercise amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Not only did the security forces benefit from training covering the areas in terms of land, sea and air training, Guyana also benefitted economically because part of Tradewinds is using the local economy for the supplies and resources required for the exercise,” he related.

Major Castello said that for Tradewinds 2023, they anticipate that it will have more than 1,000 troops involving Guyanese and other nations.

“I can say that GDF stands strong to support working with South Command and all nations involved in this exercise to ensure that Tradewinds 2023 is beneficial and successful,” Castello said.

Held annually since 1984, the Tradewinds exercise is designed to expand the region’s capability to mitigate, plan for, and respond to crises; increase regional training capacity and interoperability; develop new and refine existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); enhance the ability to defend Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ); increase readiness; promote human rights and adherence to shared international norms and values; fully integrate women into the force; and increase maritime domain awareness to deter Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

The regional organisations scheduled to participate in Tradewinds are Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Regional Security System (RSS), the Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).

The Regional Security Cooperation, according to US Army Major, Benjamin Leger, is a foreign military interaction exercise focused on maritime interdiction, ground security, and multinational staff training which supports SOUTHCOM’s campaign plan.

“TW23 scenarios include countering Transnational Criminal Organisations (CO) and Violent Extremist Organisations (VEO) to increase interoperability, help finalise the Caribbean Community SOPs, enhance regional collaboration and stability, and increase response effectiveness to security threats common to the region,” he said.