Tradewinds 2022 Officially Begins

Prime Minister John Briceño was present at the launch of the multinational defense exercise Tradewinds 2022, on Saturday in Ladyville Village. The two-week exercise will see one thousand, eight hundred military men from twenty nations training shoulder to shoulder. It is a display of force and unity among these nations on land, air, sea, and even in cyber security. Mexico is co-hosting the exercise with Belize. The country is hosting the maritime activities. U.S Southern Command is sponsoring Tradewinds 2022. We spoke with Prime Minister John Briceño, and Kevin Bostick, the SOUTHCOM Director, about the exercise.

John Briceño

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Trade wind is a yearly exercise that takes place in the region, and it is a good opportunity where the different countries can cooperate with one another in issues of not only security but on emergency instances, for instances like COVID or if there is a hurricane, so I think this is a wonderful exercise. We have countries from all over the region, including as far as Brazil and Canada. Mexico for the first time is co hosting Belize in this case. At one time I was told that the exercise was four weeks, I think they cut it down now for two weeks. So, we are very excited, happy they are here. It is a little over a thousand soldiers that are going to be here doing this two weeks exercise.”

Kevin Bostick

Kevin Bostick, SOUTHCOM Director of Exercises and Coalition Affairs

“We always have this thing we say in the United States, train as you fight. So, if I am not going to battle the threat alone, I don’t need to train alone. It is significant in that Mexico being right next door to Belize. Let’s say if there is a threat that starts off the coast of Belize and moves through Belize, where are they going? They are going to Mexico. Or, if they are coming from Mexico into Belize, so that last step between those two countries to have this exercise working together, lets everybody know each other and helps to encounter those threats, no matter which direction they may come from.”