Canada’s recent participation in the 38th edition of Operation Tradewinds achieved the country’s objectives of strengthening its ties with allied armies, deepening its knowledge of the Caribbean and increasing the interoperability of the Canadian Armed Forces with those of 20 other countries, according to the Canadian Department of the National Army. Defense.

Tradewinds, a two-week multinational exercise that took place in July in Guyana, involved more than 1,500 participants, including military, civilian and law enforcement personnel, according to a press release from the States Southern Command -United (SOUTHCOM).

The exercise focused on maritime interdiction, land security and field training.

Events included wilderness certification; exchange of airborne wings; simulation of oil spills and floods; human rights training; and instructions related to the Women, Peace and Security initiative, according to the press release.

Participants trained in Guyana at Georgetown, Camp Ayanganna, Camp Stephenson, Camp Seweyo, London Air Force Base, Guyana Police Academy and the Jungle Amphibious Training School in Makouria.

The Canadian detachment of about 20 soldiers participated in operational planning and disaster relief, according to a Canadian National Defense video.

Lt. Col. Steven Hale, who led the detachment, said the main goal was to learn about their Caribbean allies and geography, while educating their counterparts on “Canadian processes.”

“Canada’s real primary objectives here are to increase interoperability and improve our situational awareness in the region,” Lt. Col. Hale said in the video.

Major Marc Coté said he mentored junior officers of the Guyana Defense Force on tactical planning before being posted to the Caribbean Task Force Operations Center to mentor operational personnel.

Captain Kimberly Ervin said the Canadians guided the other participants on the basics of operational planning.

“Our role initially was to make them comfortable with how to process this information. And then slowly, as the exercise progresses, we step back and let them run the show,” Captain Ervin said.

The host country, Guyana, was also happy with the result.

“Tradewinds 23 demonstrated that when nations come together for a common goal, we become a better sum of our parts,” said Maj. Jaime Castillo, lead planner for the exercise in Guyana, according to the SOUTHCOM release. “This exercise highlighted the importance of international cooperation, interoperability and the shared responsibility we have to ensure a peaceful and stable world.”

Participating countries included Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominica, France, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, United States , the United Kingdom, the Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Vincent. and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago,

“For 38 years, we have joined together to advance partner nation capabilities, strengthen partnerships, improve interoperability, and advance human rights,” said U.S. Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson, Commander of SOUTHCOM, during the closing of the ceremony. “Tradewinds is a multi-domain, multi-dimensional exercise, and organizing it is not an easy task. »

“I would also like to point out that this year’s exercise was the most complex in Tradewinds’ 38-year history. Transnational criminal organizations, malicious state actors, cybercrime, environmental climate change, and irregular migration continue to grow in scale and intensity, posing a significant challenge to the national security of all of us and the Western Hemisphere,” said General Ex Richardson.