Tradewinds 2017 kicks off in Barbados

Photo By Chief Warrant Officer Melissa Leake | Coast Guard Rear Adm. Daniel Abel, director of operations for U.S. Southern Command, and Linda Swartz Taglialatela, ambassador for the United States of America, depart the opening ceremony for Tradewinds 2017 in Bridgetown, Barbados, June 6, 2017. Tradewinds is a joint, combined exercise conducted in conjunction with partner nations to enhance the collective abilities of defense forces and constabularies to counter transnational organized crime, and to conduct humanitarian/disaster relief operations. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Melissa Leake/Released)  

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS

06.06.2017

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Melissa Leake 

U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Exercise Tradewinds 2017, a multi-national maritime security and disaster response exercise in the Caribbean, began with an opening ceremony welcoming 20 partner nations in Bridgetown, Barbados, Tuesday.

During the opening ceremony, Barbados Defence Force Chief of Staff Col. Glyne S. Grannum reminded participating countries of how important the exercise is.

"As I have the privilege to welcome the participants of the exercise, I urge you to use this opportunity to develop and to hone your skills as defense and security emergency response practitioners," said Grannum. "You are encouraged to approach the exercise with a reinvigorated focus maximizing the training interactions with the local, regional and external-regional subject matter experts.

The scenario for exercise Tradewinds 2017 was designed based on the two island states of Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago being severely affected by transnational organized criminal activity from an external source.

The theme for Tradewinds 2017 is "A Seamless States Partnership for a Secure Region."

• Date Taken: 06.06.2017
• Date Posted: 06.06.2017 12:32
• Story ID: 236520
• Location: BRIDGETOWN, BB