Tradewinds exercise features cybersecurity, special ops

This year’s Tradewinds military exercise is being tailored to strengthen Caribbean armed forces’ readiness for “the most likely and most dangerous threats” to the ICC T20 World Cup next month, officials said Friday.

Cybersecurity, special operations, and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HADR) dominate Exercise Tradewinds 2024 (EXTW24), the multinational military training event hosted by the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) and the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which begins on Saturday under the theme Tailored for the Region, by the Region – Promoting a Secure Caribbean: 2024 and Beyond.

During a press conference on Friday at St Ann’s Fort, the Garrison, lead planner and BDF Commander Mark Peterson said that while the training will focus on countering transnational organised crime, emphasis will also be placed on addressing unique threats that can occur during the hosting of large-scale sporting events, in this case, next month’s Cricket World Cup which will be held in Barbados, Saint Lucia, St Vincent, Trinidad and the United States.

“The exercise will assist us in focusing on preparing for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2024 on countering the most likely and most dangerous threats that may occur during the tournament,” he explained.

“Given the geo-political issues faced regionally and internationally, the most likely threat that can occur may be peaceful protests and the most dangerous threats could be an active shooter scenario, a hostage situation and a mass casualty-causing event or a combination thereof.”

Peterson shared that four Blackhawk helicopters, various aircrafts and nine foreign naval vessels have been brought in to support the execution of EXTW24.

Echoing the significance of the exercise, the US Exercise Director, Colonel Chip Karels, said: “Cybercrime and cyber operations are major issues for all countries throughout the world… so it gives an opportunity for our forces to work together and build those common understandings. Cyber is difficult, cyber is hard, and building that common defence throughout the region and throughout the hemisphere is critical.”

EXTW24 also places a strong emphasis on HADR, an aspect crucial for the Caribbean region known for its vulnerability to natural disasters.

In addition to classroom instruction, the various tracks will feature field exercises and simulations to ensure collaboration between partner forces.

US Chargé d’Affaires Joaquin Monserrate praised the US-Barbados collaboration as the region takes a larger global role by hosting major events.

“We are particularly grateful that we can convene once again in Barbados as we had to postpone it in 2020 because of the pandemic,” he said. “I’m glad we are able to embrace it fully in force at a time when this region in the Caribbean is becoming much more worldly and present in the international dimension, not least evidenced by the Cricket World Cup that we will also co-host with Barbados and the West Indies countries,” he said.