Exercise Tradewinds has proven to be extremely beneficial to all participating nations and agencies. It provides a unique platform from which participants, with varied training, procedures, and cultures, can integrate and operate seamlessly in responding to common threats.Local participating and planning organisations include: The Barbados Police Service, the Barbados Fire Service, the Department of Emergency Management, the Regional Security System (HQ), the Customs and Excise Department and the Immigration Department.Source: https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/barbados-to-co-host-exercise-tradewinds-2024/Exercise Tradewinds is a United States Southern Command-sponsored military exercise which is conducted annually in the Caribbean region. Now in its 39th year, EXTW24 is scheduled to be held in Barbados from May 4 to 16 and will witness the participation of 84 countries and organisations, comprising military and law enforcement personnel, in various aspects of training.Photo: Exercise TradewindsCommander Mark Peterson of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) will be the lead planner for the exercise and is chairing the Main Planning Conference (MPC) for EXTW24. The MPC, which is currently being held at the Hilton Barbados Resort, will come to an end this Friday, February 2.The Exercise is designed to improve cooperation, interoperability, and operational responses between participating nations to common threats to national, regional, and hemispheric security. This year, the exercise will focus on preparing regional forces for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2024.Barbados will co-host Exercise Tradewinds 2024 (EXTW24) with the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).Barbados also stands to benefit from an economic perspective. The US SOUTHCOM will inject a significant amount of funds into the local economy to procure goods and services in support of the exercise. There will also be an inflow of approximately 1,000 foreign military and law enforcement personnel from the Caribbean, Latin America, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.EXTW24 will therefore provide an excellent opportunity for greater regional and sub-regional integration, coordination and networking of the region’s security forces. Additionally, it will afford security forces and Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Response agencies an opportunity to be exposed to updated techniques in disaster management and mitigation, as well as in counter-narcotics and other aspects of law enforcement.Author: Government of BarbadosBarbados previously hosted Exercise TRADEWINDS in 1992, 2003, and 2017.
