Exercise TRADEWINDS 2017 Exercise TRADEWINDS 2017 is a multinational maritime interdiction, ground security and interagency exercise hosted by Barbados, Trinidad in partnership with the U.S. Southern Command. It focuses on countering transnational organized crime and practicing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) in order to promote regional security cooperation. This year there will be twenty (20) participating countries involved in the exercise. These countries are: Antigua and Barbuda
Commonwealth of the Bahamas
Barbados (Host Nation)
Belize
Canada
Commonwealth of Dominica
The Dominican Republic
The French Republic
Grenada The Co-operative Republic of Guyana
The Republic of Haiti
Jamaica
The United Mexican States
The Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
St Vincent and the Grenadines
The Republic of Suriname
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (Host Nation)
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United States of America purpose The exercise is designed to promote regional security and cooperation initiatives, such as the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. It offers both the Caribbean and the U.S. a unique opportunity to build on and synchronize national security and Emergency Management Initiatives in the region. Objectives Exercise TRADEWINDS provides an important opportunity for Barbados to strengthen defence relationships between partner nations and for civilian government-led disaster response efforts by: Supporting the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBSI) and Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI). Enhance regional information sharing Improve maritime interdiction coordination Develop regional training capacity Improve asset sustainment and maintenance practices Training with Partner Nations to build capacity in order to more effectively conduct: Humanitarian crisis and disaster management (HA/DR) Countering Transnational Organized Crime (CTOC) Enhancing Regional Relationships by: Integrating and exercising Regional, Sub-regional Organisations with National Military/Security Forces. Ensuring RSS and CARICOM objectives are met and relationships are strengthened Strengthening Regional Interoperability