U.S. Army Southern Commanding General Maj. Gen. William Thigpen speaks during the opening ceremony for Tradewinds 2023 (TW23) at Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown, Guyana, July 15, 2023. Tradewinds is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise designed to strengthen partnerships and interoperability, promote human rights, as well as increase all participants’ training capacity and ability to mitigate, plan for, and respond to crises and disasters. security threats. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joshua Taeckens)
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Chief of Staff of the Guyanese Defense Forces, Brig. Gen. Omar Khan, speaks during the opening ceremony for Tradewinds 2023 at Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown, Guyana, July 15, 2023. Tradewinds is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise aimed at strengthening partnerships and interoperability, promote human rights, and increase all participants’ training capacity and ability to mitigate, plan for, and respond to crises and security threats. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joshua Taeckens)
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GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Caribbean-focused exercise, Tradewinds 2023 (TW23), officially kicked off with an opening ceremony held earlier today at Camp Ayanganna.
“The participation of more than 1,500 service members this year illustrates the shared commitment to one another as we strengthen our partnerships and remain united to share responsibilities as advocates for our shared values,” said Major General U.S. Army South Major General William Thigpen. . “TW23 is key to leveraging the capabilities of like-minded countries to achieve common goals and enhance regional stability.”
Tradewinds is an annual U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise designed to strengthen partnerships and interoperability, promote human rights, and increase all participants’ training capacity and ability to mitigate, plan for and respond to regional crises and security threats.
TW23 is the 38th edition of the exercise and will see participants from 21 countries train in land, air, sea and cyber at various locations in Guyana from July 15-28.
According to Major of the Guyana Defense Forces Jaime Castello, lead planner for TW23, this is the second time in three years that Guyana has hosted Tradewinds and great national, regional and international efforts have been made to ensure the exercise.
“Now, after months of planning, extensive coordination and tireless organization, we have finally arrived at this momentous occasion,” Castello said. “Planning committees, logistics teams and those involved have worked tirelessly to produce a plan…and design realistic scenarios that will challenge, inspire and nurture participants’ growth.”
These plans will help achieve the exercise’s objectives and improve interagency interoperability, according to US Ambassador to Guyana, the Honorable Sarah-Ann Lynch.
The United States Ambassador to Guyana, the Honorable Sarah-Ann Lynch, addresses attendees of the opening ceremony of Tradewinds 2023 at Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown, Guyana on July 15, 2023. Tradewinds is an exercise sponsored by U.S. Southern Command designed to strengthen partnerships and interoperability, promote human rights, as well as increase all participants’ training capacity and ability to mitigate, plan for, and respond to crises and security threats. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joshua Taeckens)
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“The objective of this exercise is to enhance the security responses of participating Caribbean nations and focus on building interdiction, security and inter-agency cooperation skills,” Lynch said. “The participation of intergovernmental organizations such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Regional Security System, the CARICOM Crime and Security Implementation Agency and the Caribbean Emergency Management Agency in the event disaster is particularly critical to the success of this exercise.”
Exercise Tradewinds has been held annually since 1984, missing just one year in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the goal of building the collective ability of participating nations’ defense forces to counter regional threats and to carry out humanitarian aid/disaster relief operations. while building strong relationships and raising human rights awareness.