Over 1,000 troops to engage in security, oil spill training in Guyana

More than 1,000 troops will participate in Tradewinds 2023, a security training exercise that will be hosted in Guyana from July 14 to 28.

Tradewinds is a United States Southern Command (US SOUTHCOM) sponsored, multinational, Caribbean security exercise that usually provides a framework to address the challenges of sustained peace and stability in the region.

This year, however, representatives of some 24 countries and regional agencies will participate in both military training and disaster response.

“… What makes Tradewinds 2023 different is that we are doing the same traditional security-type training as well as incorporating two humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations,” Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Major Jaime Castello said on Monday.

Officers will be involved in an oil spill response exercise led by Guyana’s Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in the Berbice River. And Major Castello said oil companies ExxonMobil and CGX are supporting this exercise.

Other officers will also be involved in a flood response exercise.

Meanwhile, US Major Benjamin Leger said the security training is expected to increase the region’s capacity to deal with various threats and crises whether on land or in the air and sea.

It is also believed that the troops will be able to strengthen partnerships and synergies by training together during the one-week exercise.

Guyana last hosted the Tradewinds exercise in 2021.