In preparation for Exercise Tradewinds 2025, the Caribbean region’s premier multinational military training event, Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, conducted a formal pre-deployment briefing with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) contingent. The briefing was held at Headquarters Coast Guard and attended by the Colonel General Staff, Branch Heads, Infantry Commanders, and Staff Officers.
A total of 10 officers and 37 other ranks will represent the GDF during this year’s exercise, which will be hosted by Trinidad and Tobago from April 26 to May 8, 2025.
Brigadier Khan provided strategic guidance and highlighted the key objectives of the engagement, noting that the exercise offers a critical platform for sharing expertise and aligning regional response strategies. “ As a region we rely on partnership, because no one nation could exclusively address the challenges and threats that this region faces,” he noted, while emphasising that partnership is not optional, but essential, and that Guyana’s active involvement in Exercise Tradewinds reinforces a collective defence posture that benefits all participating nations.
The Chief of Defence Staff also reminded the troops of the need for exemplary conduct and discipline, stressing that they will be operating in an environment with its own complex dynamics. He urged ranks to remain vigilant, culturally aware, and mission-focused throughout the deployment.
Over the two-week exercise, GDF troops will be assigned to specialised training tracks designed to simulate real-world scenarios and enhance mission-critical skills. These activities will take place under the framework of the Combined Taskforce Headquarters. Lieutenant Colonel Harold Fraser, who leads the GDF contingent, will serve at the strategic command level, reinforcing Guyana’s active role in promoting regional defence cooperation and leadership.
Additionally, the Force’s recently acquired GDFS Shahoud will participate in the Maritime Tracks of the exercise. This inclusion represents a major step in strengthening Guyana’s naval capabilities and its contribution to joint regional maritime operations, with a focus on synchronised security efforts at sea.
Exercise Tradewinds continues to serve as a vital platform for enhancing interoperability, fostering regional ties, and preparing military forces for unified responses to evolving security threats.
