With the start of a new edition of Exercise Tradewinds, the U.S. has deployed Marine Corps personnel to Trinidad and Tobago. The exercise will take place from April 24 to May 8 in the Chaguaramas Peninsula and surrounding areas, under the joint leadership of U.S. Army South (USARSOUTH) and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF).
Exercise Tradewinds, a long-standing activity focused on the Caribbean region, is celebrating its 40th edition with the goal of strengthening security cooperation and operational readiness among participating forces. The exercise emphasizes maritime security, interagency coordination, and disaster response. The 2024 edition of this exercise was held in Barbados.
This year, in addition to U.S. troops, military and security personnel from 24 partner nations and two allied countries will take part. Participating U.S. entities include Marine Forces South, the Marine Corps Reserve, U.S. Southern Command, the U.S. Army and Navy, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Regional organizations such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) will also be involved.
Throughout the exercise, a variety of military maneuvers will be conducted, including maritime interdictions, coordinated interagency actions, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions. Activities will take place across land, sea, and air domains, featuring realistic operations to prepare forces for responding to natural disasters, threats from hostile regional actors, and violent extremist organizations.
On this matter, Lieutenant General Leonard F. Anderson IV, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces South (MARFORSOUTH), emphasized, “The men and women of Marine Forces South and Marine Forces Reserve are proud to once again be the partner of choice of Allied and partner nations for this iteration of Tradewinds,” adding, “This exercise strengthens our bonds and ensures our coordinated forces are fully prepared to successfully and forcefully face any challenge in the region.”
One of the most notable maneuvers of Tradewinds 2025 will be a joint amphibious insertion exercise, as well as M240B machine gun firing drills from a U.S. Coast Guard vessel in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. Basic infantry training will also be conducted between Marines from Company L, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, and local and regional troops.
Image credits: U.S. Department of Defense
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