BELIZE CITY, Belize – The U.S. Ambassador to Belize, Carlos Mareno, visited a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter here today as the maritime phase of the annual Tradewinds exercise began.
Mareno said the U.S. Coast Guard pairs perfectly with its Belizian partners. He added that with the regional-security challenges faced here and throughout Central America, there is no better branch of our military than the Coast Guard to help during this important joint exercise.
USCGC Paul Clark (WPC-1106), commanded by Lt. Lloyd Belcher, is leading the Coast Guard’s role in Tradewinds 2015 maritime phase II - which includes coastal patrol operations, small boat operations, engineering administration, maritime law enforcement, and operation center procedures.
Up to 18 nations are expected to participate in phase II of Tradewinds 2015 which runs through June 24th.
Tradewinds is a combined, joint U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise and an opportunity for the participating partner nations to come together to enhance regional maritime security.