Category: Southern Command

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (Dec. 12, 2024) — U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) leaders joined regional defense and security leaders this week to discuss security challenges and regional cooperation during the Caribbean Nations Security Conference (CANSEC) 2024 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

U.S. Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, Commander of SOUTHCOM, joined Vice Air Marshall Darryl Daniel, Chief of Staff of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, in co-hosting CANSEC.

Also during the week, Holsey met with national leaders for a series of bilateral meetings and engagements, including the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Dr. Keith Rowley.

During the conference, defense and security leaders from the Caribbean exchanged ideas, experiences, and perspectives on regional collaborative efforts to address security challenges in the 21st century.

“Our commonalities go beyond common terrain. We are bound by shared history, culture, values, and economics. We dedicate ourselves to upholding and established norms and universal values like respect for human rights and the rule of law,” said Holsey during the conference’s opening ceremony.

“Still, the threats we face continue to evolve. Democratic governance is being assailed by authoritarian and communist governments, who, under the guise of investment, have come to the Western Hemisphere to extract, while championing the virtues of autocracy. Their influence and presence have far-reaching consequences across all domains – including the maritime domain which we are collectively committed to keeping the region’s waterways, including the Panama Canal, free, open, and prosperous,” said Holsey.

This year’s conference theme was “Strengthening Bonds, Securing Futures: United for Regional Security”. The event included discussions on countering threats across multiple domains, as well as enabling a regional approach to respond to natural disasters and crises.

Holsey joined defense leaders from 16 nations for two days of dialogue, briefings, and bilateral meetings focused on cooperation and regional security.

“With so many leaders present today, the next couple of days provides us with a unique opportunity to affirm our commitment to collaboration, cooperation, and partnerships as we address our common threats and challenges,” said Holsey.

“As allies and partners, it is imperative that we continue our efforts across all domains to increase readiness, build capacity, and develop resiliency necessary to overcome enduring threats, “said Holsey. “Change sometimes takes time. But the commitment to change starts the moment we all decide to act.  It is our collective responsibility to act.”

CANSEC is sponsored annually by SOUTHCOM in the region and was last hosted by Trinidad and Tobago in 2018.

The U.S. military has an enduring partnership with defense and security forces in the Caribbean.

U.S. and regional forces routinely train together in annual exercises, including Tradewinds, which is the region’s premier multinational training exercise focused on Caribbean security.

U.S. military and Caribbean partners also collaborate in efforts to detect, disrupt, and dismantle transnational criminal organizations and traffickers, and collaborate on efforts to strengthen humanitarian assistance and disaster response capabilities in the region.

“The power of our partnership will prove the strength of democracy to people of this region and the world,” Holsey said.

SOUTHCOM is one of the nation’s six geographically focused unified commands with responsibility for U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, Central America and South America, as well as security cooperation with defense and public-security forces in the region.

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

See original joint Ministerio de Defensa Nacional de la República del Paraguay and U.S. Embassy Paraguay press release

The government of Paraguay in collaboration with U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) recently completed a joint cyber security review of Paraguayan government networks designed to strengthen the security of the nation’s critical assets. During the review, the cyber espionage actor Flax Typhoon – a group based in the People’s Republic of China with links to the PRC government – was identified infiltrating Paraguayan government systems.
 
Recent infiltrations of private telecommunications infrastructure in the United States highlight the importance of cooperation and strengthening critical infrastructure – particularly cyber and communications infrastructure – to reduce vulnerabilities.

This cyber review was part of ongoing cooperation between the United States and Paraguay to build a more secure and resilient digital infrastructure and address shared challenges in cyberspace. The government of Paraguay and the government of the United States of America will continue to work on strengthening their cybersecurity systems to build and strengthen the national and international system.

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

NATAL, BRAZIL  –  

For the first time in the history of CRUZEX, cyber operations played a pivotal role. CRUZEX 2024 introduced “CRUZEX CYBER,” a simulated cyber exercise designed to integrate cyber defense with traditional air operations, marking a new frontier in military training.

CRUZEX, one of the largest multinational military exercises in Latin America, has traditionally focused on enhancing air and space operational coordination. This year, the addition of cyber scenarios aims to expand the scope of the exercise by highlighting the crucial intersection of cyber and aerospace domains.

“This integration allows both forces to benefit from real-time information sharing and strategic coordination,” said Brazilian Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Tiago Josue Diedrich, Chief of the Cyber Operations Cell. “Cyber operations can support air-missions by reducing the risks of detection and direct confrontation, thereby enhancing mission efficiency and success in achieving strategic objectives.”

In a “Capture the Flag” format, the exercise simulates a range of cyber challenges while testing participants’ ability to defend and exploit systems crucial to aerospace operations. Each day, the team completes different missions related to the air operations.

“Today, we are deciphering messages and trying to locate audio to decrypt and if we’re successful, we feed that information and intelligence to the wing for their aerial missions,” said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Robert Woods, Vermont Air National Guard cyber warfare officer. “At the end of the day, we go over everything and share each other’s solutions because there are multiple ways, techniques and tools you can use to solve a problem.”

Participants from Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and the United States engaged in the simulated scenarios, working together to develop coordinated responses to cyber threats. On top of CRUZEX CYBER, there was simultaneously a space exercise being conducted to test the limits of each country’s programs.

“This is the first year space has been a part of CRUZEX and so we are trying to help establish the ground of how this will look going into the future,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jason Capostagno, New York Air National Guard, 107th Attack Wing space systems operator. “The exercise acts as a catalyst for us to meet our partners in a space environment and exchange best practices.”

CRUZEX CYBER is a testament to fostering international collaboration and enhancing cybersecurity expertise across the participating nations. The training aims to fortify the resilience of critical military infrastructure and strengthen the strategic partnerships within the region.

“Cyber is going to be embedded in every piece of our cyber warfare and having a cyber force that is able to manage and work in these environments with our partners is immensely important,” said Woods.

With the integration of cyber operations into a traditional aerospace-focused exercise, CRUZEX 2024 marks a significant step forward in preparing military forces for the complexities of modern warfare, where cyber threats are as real as physical ones.

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III underscored the power of U.S. partnerships in bolstering shared values throughout the Western Hemisphere as he presided over the U.S. Southern Command change of command ceremony today at the combatant command’s headquarters in Doral, Florida. 

Austin praised outgoing Southcom Commander Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson and the service members and civilian personnel who fill Southcom’s ranks for their unrelenting focus on strengthening security across Latin America and the Carribean. 

“Every day, Southcom keeps the watch throughout our hemisphere,” Austin said.  

“This hemisphere is home to so many growing economies and vibrant democracies,” he said. “But your [area of responsibility] also includes pressing security challenges, including transnational crime, irregular migration, fundraising by transnational terrorist groups and natural disasters fueled by climate change. And so, on every level, Southcom’s mission is close to home.” 

Key to Southcom’s success in responding to these challenges, Austin said, has been Richardson’s focus on strengthening partnerships throughout the region.  

Throughout Richardson’s tenure, which began as the region was still emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, Southcom conducted 24 joint exercises and trained alongside nearly 40,000 participants from more than 30 countries.  

“Those exercises strengthen interoperability,” Austin said. “They foster trust, and they forge stronger partnerships across the region. And that makes everybody more secure. Those ties are crucial as the U.S. and its partners respond to emerging crises.” 

Austin noted Southcom’s leadership as the Defense Department continues to support the Kenyan-led U.N. mission in Haiti.  

“Together, we’ve helped to reestablish security at the airport in Port-au-Prince. And that let security forces from Kenya and other countries safely arrive in Haiti,” Austin said. “And we’ll continue to support the Haitian security forces as they reestablish safety and stability for the Haitian people.” 

Austin also noted that Southcom and DOD work alongside partner nations to counter transnational criminal groups and to detect and monitor the trafficking of illicit drugs.  

The United States’ close partnerships with like-minded nations are also critical as China attempts to expand its malign influence throughout the region, Austin said.  

Austin warned that China continues to work to exploit insecurity and the need for economic investment in the region as a means to expand its influence and advance its malign agenda. 

Richardson echoed Austin’s concerns over China’s attempts to expand its influence throughout Latin America and the Carribean. And she warned of Russia’s continued attempts to employ malign activities and spread disinformation throughout the region.  

“This is a call to action,” Richardson said. “And this is a fight between democracy and autocracy. It’s that simple. Our rules based international order is at stake, and we have to stick together as team democracy.” 

Both leaders highlighted the key role partnerships will continue to serve in countering the threats posed by Russia and China in the region.  

“The United States has a very different approach,” Austin said. “We’re working hard to strengthen full and respectful partnerships rooted in our shared values of democracy, human rights and opportunity for all.” 

During the ceremony, Richardson, the first woman to command Southcom, handed the reins to Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, the first African American to assume the role.  

During his remarks, Holsey affirmed his commitment to continue forging lasting ties throughout the region.  

These partnerships, he said, are the best deterrence to our shared security and economic concerns.  

“We will always be there for like-minded nations who share our values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights,” he said.  

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

MIAMI (Oct. 24, 2024) — Army Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), met with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo and senior defense leaders during an official visit to Guatemala Oct. 22-24.

In addition to the general, the U.S. contingent included Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council, Daniel Erikson, and SOUTHCOM Military Deputy Commander, Navy Vice Adm. Alvin Holsey.

Richardson’s meeting with President Arévalo Oct. 23 focused on deepening the U.S.-Guatemala security partnership and reaffirming the commitment to work together to combat transnational criminal organizations. The general previously met with the president during a visit in April.

Richardson also met with Minister of Defense Brig. Gen. Henry David Saenz and Chief of the Guatemalan National Defense Brig. Gen. Hermelindo Choz Soc to discuss cooperation in efforts to counter illicit traffickers, bolster cyber security and advance protection of human rights.

The general joined Minister Saenz and senior Guatemalan military leaders as the U.S. donated equipment to the Guatemalan armed forces to help strengthen the nation’s security and counter-illicit trafficking efforts. The donation, valued at $12.8 million, includes parts for vehicles, boats and aircraft, communication equipment, and personal protection gear.

Later on Oct. 23, Richardson and Saenz signed a Cooperative Situational Information Integration (CSII) agreement that renews an original agreement signed in 2014. CSII allows nations to securely share air, maritime, and land tracks in near real-time, and strengthen and enhance collaborative efforts to counter illicit trafficking, disaster response, and monitoring of territorial fishing waters.

Both leaders also signed a U.S.-Guatemala letter of request for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide expertise and technical assistance to help accelerate Guatemala’s modernization of the Port of Queztal. The modernization effort aims to bolster the nation’s economy and strengthen port security.

Guatemala is an important partner in efforts to contribute to regional security. The U.S. is committed to working with Guatemala to combat transnational criminal organizations and bolster regional security.

Security cooperation between the U.S. and Guatemala focuses on shared interests including combating transnational criminal organizations and other malign actors; disaster preparedness; cyber security; promoting respect for human rights; and the expanded integration of women in security, peace, and defense missions.

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

MENDOZA, Argentina – From October 13-16, 2024, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro led the United States delegation to the XVI Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas (CDMA) in Mendoza, Argentina. The delegation included senior officials from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Northern Command were also represented.

CDMA is the premier defense forum in the Western Hemisphere, convening the senior most national security and defense officials biennially to address hemisphere-wide challenges while forging strong partnerships throughout the region. This year’s event featured discussions on the responsible use of artificial intelligence, and climate and environmental challenges from a defense perspective.

Secretary Del Toro held bilateral meetings with Ministry of Defense leaders from the following countries:

Argentina
Secretary Del Toro and Minister of Defense Petri reaffirmed their mutual commitment to the U.S.- Argentina defense relationship and discussed efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation, including in Women, Peace, and Security, and peacekeeping operations. Secretary Del Toro thanked Minister Petri for hosting the XVI CDMA and for Argentina’s contributions to global security.

Brazil
Secretary Del Toro and Minister Múcio discussed cooperating on emerging defense areas, including cyber, space, and special operations; military-to-military activities in the South Atlantic; and expanding defense industrial base cooperation. The two sides recognized the progress made towards finalization of the U.S.-Brazil Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement.

Colombia
Secretary Del Toro and Vice Minister Suárez discussed the strong bilateral U.S.-Colombia defense relationship, and tackling emerging challenges such as counter-unmanned aircraft system, climate change, and support to special operations. The delegations discussed countering transnational criminal organizations, and regional security.

Peru
Secretary Del Toro and Minister Astudillo discussed the strength of the U.S.-Peru bilateral defense relationship, especially in areas of security cooperation and countering transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The U.S. commended Peru’s recent progress toward the lifting of aerial interdiction restrictions.

The Ministers endorsed the United States’ proposal to host the XVIII CDMA in 2028.

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

See originally posted release

On September 18, the United States Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) Humanitarian Assistance Program through the U.S. Embassy Port of Spain donated two mobile medical units, known as “Clinics in a Can,” valued at US$490,534 to the people of Trinidad and Tobago through the Ministry of Health.

At the donation ceremony at the Port of Spain General Hospital, U.S. Ambassador Candace Bond said, “The units are equipped with state-of-the-art tools and technology, such as digital x-ray machines and trauma room equipment. Their design incorporates solar panels, which makes them energy efficient.  They are designed to offer a wide range of medical services, from basic care to more advanced medical treatments and procedures. These mobile medical units will significantly bolster the hospital’s capacity to support the emergency department’s response to public health emergencies and provide routine care. This is another example of how the United States of America supports Trinidad and Tobago’s public health and health delivery as Trinidad and Tobago’s good neighbor and best friend and partner in the world.”

SOUTHCOM’s Deputy Commander for Mobilization and Reserve Affairs, Major General Javier Reina said, “SOUTHCOM has partnered with the government of Trinidad and Tobago to plan and execute several humanitarian assistance projects focusing on disaster preparedness, and disaster risk reduction, health, and education.” He said the mobile units are the third pair of clinics to be donated to a country in the Western Hemisphere and Latin America. The first and second set of clinics were given to Ecuador and Honduras.

Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh expressed profound appreciation to the U.S. Embassy and SOUTHCOM for the generous contribution.  He said, “I extend my sincere thanks to Ambassador Candace Bond and the U.S. Southern Command for this invaluable donation, which will significantly bolster our capacity to deliver timely, high-quality healthcare, particularly during emergencies. The inclusion of these state-of-the-art units represents a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to strengthen and modernize the public health infrastructure of Trinidad and Tobago.”

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz.  –  

Maj. Gen. David Mineau accepted command of the newly activated Air Forces Southern from U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin during a Change of Command ceremony at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Sept. 11, 2024. 

This change of command not only marked a significant change in leadership but the command’s reoptimization for the Air Force’s Great Power Competition initiative. The transformation of the global landscape over the past three decades necessitated this shift in operational posture.

At the direction of the Secretary of the Air Force, Air Forces Southern was elevated to a Service Component Command.  The Air Force is organizing its major commands, or MAJCOMs, into Institutional Commands, responsible for organizing, training, and equipping Airmen, and Service Component Commands, responsible for preparing Airmen for warfighting in a combatant command’s area of responsibility.

Mineau assumed command from Maj. Gen. Evan Pettus, outgoing AFSOUTH commander, whose next assignment will see him pin on the rank of Lt. Gen. as the Military Deputy Commander for U.S. Southern Command. 

“I could not be more proud of what team Pettus has done for our Air Force and for Southern Command,” said Allvin. “The accomplishments are there on paper, but the how was born out of a career’s worth of professional development, personal development, and just some hard work.”

During the ceremony, Allvin presented Pettus with the Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of his exceptionally meritorious service to the U.S. Air Force during his time as AFSOUTH commander.

Pettus took time to thank members of his team for their support during his tenure, naming those who helped make the command successful in its mission to compete in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. “I’m deeply grateful for all you’ve done, thank you for what you continue to do for our nation in this hemisphere, in this incredibly important strategic environment,” said Pettus. “I’ve told David Mineau that this is the best two-star job in the Air Force. The mission is truly special and so are the men and women that perform it and the community that supports it.”

Prior to taking command, Mineau served as the Deputy Commander, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) and Deputy, Combined Forces Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command, Southwest Asia. As the AFSOUTH commander, he will be responsible for the readiness and sustainment of approximately 800 personnel across four geographically separated locations.

Army Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of U.S. Southern Command, welcomed Mineau into the SOUTHCOM family, recognizing the historic impact of AFSOUTH’s elevation to a SCC, reporting straight to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and aligning directly to USSOUTHCOM, one of the Department of Defense’s six geographic combatant commands.

“He is the right leader at the right time to take over the command of Air Forces Southern command,” said Richardson. “David, you’ll help this great AFSOUTH team demonstrate time and again the United States will fulfill its enduring promise to be the most trusted partner in Latin America and the Caribbean for the people today, tomorrow and always.”

In his first time addressing the men and women under his command, Mineau stressed the importance of the AFSOUTH mission to the nation and the hemisphere.

“The expertise that you all have, not just in the application of airpower and cyber, but your knowledge and experience in Latin America and the Caribbean is just world class,” said Mineau. “It’s my honor to lead you with vision, with passion, with empathy, as we support U.S. Southern Command in strengthening partnerships, countering threats, and building our team.”

As the air component for U.S. Southern Command, AFSOUTH is responsible for all USAF forces in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility, developing air and space contingency plans, and providing command and control of associated air, space, and cyber operations. With a long and proud history, stretching back more than three quarters of a century, AFSOUTH stands ready to support the defense requirements of the United States and its allies today and into the future.

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

FORMOSA, GOIáS, BRAZIL  –  

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South and the Brazilian Naval Infantry (CFN) commenced Exercise Formosa today, a major Brazilian military exercise with U.S. participation aimed at enhancing the bilateral training partnership between the United States Marine Corps and Brazil and strengthening regional security.

Exercise Formosa will involve a series of joint training activities designed to improve interoperability, readiness, and mutual understanding between U.S. and Brazilian forces, including the Brazilian air force and army. This year’s exercise focuses on training CFN’s rapid reaction force, verify expeditionary capabilities, and coordinated fires of all their weapons. The exercise includes more than 2,500 participants.

The exercise will begin with a ground logistics movement from Rio de Janeiro to Formosa, more than 1,000 miles, to bring troops and gear to set up an expeditionary base.

“This exercise is a testament to our mutual respect, trust, and the professionalism of both our forces”.Lt. Gen. Leonard Anderson, commander of MARFORSOUTH and U.S. Marine Forces Reserve

The U.S. and Brazil share a long-standing and multifaceted security cooperation partnership that plays a significant role in promoting regional stability and addressing common security challenges in the Western Hemisphere. This partnership is characterized by collaborative efforts across various domains, including military cooperation, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response.

“Exercise Formosa represents the 200 year-long strong and enduring partnership between the United States and Brazil,” said Lt. Gen. Leonard Anderson, commander of MARFORSOUTH and U.S. Marine Forces Reserve. “By working side-by-side, our forces are not only enhancing our ability to operate together but also reaffirming our shared commitment to the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere. This exercise is a testament to our mutual respect, trust, and the professionalism of both our forces.”

This year, U.S. Marines from 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, and 3rd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, both U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, will participate in Exercise FORMOSA.

The U.S. and Brazil regularly engage in combined military exercises, such as Exercise Formosa, Exercise UNITAS, and various subject matter expert exchanges and naval infantry symposiums, aimed at enhancing interoperability, operational readiness, and mutual understanding between their armed forces. These exercises cover a wide range of operations including amphibious warfare, urban combat, peacekeeping, and humanitarian assistance.

“Our collaboration with the Brazilian Naval Infantry in Exercise Formosa underscores the importance of international cooperation in maintaining regional security,” said Anderson. “This combined, joint exercise allows us to build warfighting readiness as a team and we are honored to be here. Together, we are stronger and more capable of ensuring the safety and well-being of our nations.”

Exercise Formosa, a key event in the military cooperation between the two nations, is a vital component of the U.S. Southern Command’s broader strategy to build strong partnerships with allied nations in the Western Hemisphere. Through exercises like this, the U.S. and Brazil demonstrate their shared commitment to peace, security, and prosperity in the region. Brazil was declared a Major Non-NATO Ally of the U.S. in 2019.

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South is the Marine Corps component to U.S. Southern Command, is responsible for planning exercises, operations, and overall Marine Corps support for the SOUTHCOM assigned area of responsibility

===============================

WHO WE ARE: Marine Forces South is the U.S. Marine Corps component of U.S. Southern Command, responsible for building partnerships to counter threats and increase interoperability in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. We build capabilities, capacity and readiness with key partner nations through a range of military engagements and other security cooperation events to demonstrate the value and utility of the Navy and Marine Corps team. We cultivate partnerships across the region to promote the rule of law, which is essential for security, stability, economic prosperity, and personal liberty.

MARFORSOUTH HQ HOMEPAGE
www.marforsouth.marines.mil/

MARFORRES HQ HOMEPAGE
www.marforres.marines.mil

FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/marforres
www.facebook.com/marforsouth

INSTAGRAM
www.instagram.com/usmcreserve
www.instagram.com/marforsouth/

YOUTUBE
www.youtube.com/marineforcesreserve1

LINKEDIN
www.linkedin.com/company/united-states-marine-forces-reserve
www.linkedin.com/company/marforsouth/

TWITTER
www.twitter.com/marforres
www.linkedin.com/company/marforsouth/

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

The final operational phase of Exercise Tradewinds 2016 completed with the pomp and circumstance of a Caribbean ceremony Tuesday.

Representatives of the 18 partner nations as well as top officials from Jamaica and the United States branded the exercise a ringing success.

Maj. General Antony Anderson, Chief of Defence Staff, Jamaica Defence Force, noted that participants arrived “with a clear desire to learn.” Planners, he said, worked to “ensure the exercise was useful and challenging.”

The ability to work together will help to meet real-world missions in a challenging environment, said Lt. General Joseph P. DiSalvo, Military Deputy Commander, U.S. Southern Command.

“This culminating event brought our forces together to test our collective ability to combat transnational criminal networks and illicit trafficking – two scourges that affect our countries,” he said.

Those sentiments were echoed by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who said the exercise was “an excellent example of cooperation.”

“It is no secret that this region has seen the impact of transnational organized crime within our borders,” he said.

Following up on Phase I, military and security forces from Caribbean nations joined the United States, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom for maritime and internal security and disaster response training in Jamaica as part of Phase II. Phase III, a Key Leader Seminar, will be conducted July 20-22 in Miami for key stakeholders and decision makers from the region.

Exercise Tradewinds supports the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), a U.S. Department of State regional security partnership. Phase I and II are designed to conduct joint, interagency capacity building exercises for participating nations. Those exercises focus on increasing regional cooperation in complex, multinational security operations, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response operations.

Participating regional organizations include the Regional Security System (RSS), Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and CARICOM.