Georgetown, Guyana. (August 3, 2023): In this photo by Tech. Sergeant Brigette Waltermire, troops from Guyana, Mexico, Trinidad, and Tobago join U.S. forces to storm aboard a simulated “pirate” ship at a shore base during Tradewinds 23, a training event centering on human rights, anti-trafficking operations, and jungle warfare. During this two-week event, solders from Caribbean and Central American nations held jungle certification, marksmanship, and airborne wing exchanges in realistic training across Guyana. The exercise also included seminars on human rights, women, peace, and security in the Caribbean.

In its 38th year, Tradewinds 23 focuses on fighting organized crime, maritime interdiction of drugs, and battling human trafficking. This year’s event involved twenty-one nations and more than 1,500 people from all branches of the U.S. military, civilians, and law enforcement across partner nations.

U.S. military organizations that supported Tradewinds included Army and Air National Guard units from Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma, and the Virgin Islands; U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM); U.S. Army South; U.S. Marine Corps Forces South; Marine Forces Reserve, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Other nations participating in the exercise included Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, France, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, and the United States.