Today, the Canadian Armed Forces is beginning its annual participation in Exercise TRADEWINDS, a U.S.-led multinational land and maritime exercise focused on strengthening safety and security in the Caribbean region. The exercise is taking place from May 30 to June 8 in Dominican Republic and from June 14 to 21 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

“It is a privilege for the Canadian Armed Forces to work alongside our Caribbean partners and allies to hone our collective ability to operate in a complex security environment and rapidly respond to natural disasters. We have an incredible opportunity to learn from our Caribbean partners during TRADEWINDS 19, and likewise are proud of the expertise and knowledge we can share with them.”

—   Lieutenant-General Mike Rouleau, Commander, Canadian Joint Operations Command

• TRADEWINDS 19 is broken down into two main phases: Phase I will take place from May 30 to June 8 in Dominican Republic and represents the integration training phase that focuses on tactical level preparedness; Phase II will take place from June 14 to 21 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and represents the conduct of operations phase that will be based on a natural disaster scenario with security aspects. 

• The Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) participation in TRADEWINDS 19 includes:

  • CAF members serving as instructors and mentors to assist in the planning and execution of maritime and land security operations, the establishment and proper functioning of a Caribbean Task Force (CTF) headquarters, and effective response to humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.
  • Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Goose Bay, a Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defense Vessel, joining a multinational group aiming to improve tactics and procedures for tracking, intercepting, and boarding suspect vessels. Additionally, the ship will embark partner nation trainees daily to exchange best practices and conduct missions assigned by the CTF.
  • The Combined Dive Team from Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic), consisting of experienced divers, provides training such as military diving procedures and tactics to partner nations’ divers. CAF divers will also partner with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) dive team to provide support to its law enforcement training, including evidence recovery. The dive program focuses on preparing partner nation divers to plan and execute dive missions in a multinational environment.
  • CAF members experienced in the operational planning process will work with partner nations to assist in the development of multinational plans built on scenario-based operational requirements that align with the exercise objectives. 

• The United States has led Exercise TRADEWINDS since its inception, with the U.S. Southern Command acting as the main exercise coordinator.

Related products

• Canadian Forces Imagery Gallery

Associated links

• Exercise Tradewinds
• CAF Operations Twitter
• CAF Operations Facebook
• U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: (613) 996-2353
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca