BARBADOS - The Defense Caribbean Region participated in the international exercise Tradewinds with over a hundred Dutch and Curaçaoan military personnel. This exercise, held from May 4th to 16th in Barbados, was aimed at preparing for the upcoming hurricane season and strengthening international cooperation.
Together with countries such as the United States, Canada, France, and various Caribbean nations, the Defense Caribbean Region took part in Exercise Tradewinds. With a total of 26 participating countries and more than a thousand military personnel, two weeks were dedicated to enhancing international cooperation.
This year, the exercise focused on humanitarian aid, disaster response, and training against threats that the Caribbean region might face in the future. For example, marines conducted boarding exercises in collaboration with Mexican military personnel.
Exercise Activities
Curaçaoan military personnel practiced urban operations alongside American military forces. HNLMS Pelikaan conducted maneuvering exercises with ships from the Dominican Republic, Canada, and France.
The Defense Caribbean Region participated in Tradewinds with Curaçaoan military personnel, support ship HNLMS Pelikaan, marines from the Marine Squadron Aruba, marines from the Sint-Maarten Marine Detachment, and boat groups from both Aruba and Curaçao.
The defense forces train and exercise multiple times a year for hurricane emergency aid. Besides Exercise Tradewinds, Exercise Windward Express also takes place in September during the hurricane season on the Windward Islands.