GDF participates in regional Exercise Tradewinds 2025

Ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) have joined participants from 26 partner nations and organisations at Teteron Barracks, Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago, for Exercise Tradewinds 2025, which officially commenced on April 26.
This 13-day multinational exercise, sponsored by the United States Southern Command, focuses on enhancing regional readiness through joint training across land, air, sea, and cyber domains. It places strong emphasis on interoperability, inter-agency coordination, and strengthening regional partnerships.
Naval units from participating countries are also taking part in the exercise, contributing to combined maritime operations and fostering cooperation among regional Coast Guards. GDF Coast Guard ranks are currently engaged in watermanship training to sharpen their maritime operational skills.
Additionally, GDF personnel have participated in a range of tactical exercises, including a PHOTOEX and GUNNEX, as well as joint MEDEVAC and Search and Rescue/Man Overboard (SAR/MOB) training alongside the US military.
Lieutenant Colonel Harold Fraser, the contingent commander, is serving as the Commander of the Combined Task Force.
The GDFS Shahoud, which transported some of the troops, is captained by Lieutenant Commander Ronald McIntyre, while Lieutenant Commander Kendrick Rodney serves as the Executive Officer of the ship.
A total of 10 officers and 37 other ranks are representing the Guyana Defence Force at the exercise.

Exercise Tradewinds is a key platform for building the capacity of regional forces in crisis response, contingency planning, and cooperative security efforts.
Late last month, at a briefing at Headquarters Coast Guard in Georgetown, in preparation for the exercise, Chief of Defence Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Omar Khan noted that the exercise offers a critical platform for sharing expertise and aligning regional strategies.
“As a region, we rely on partnership, because no one nation could exclusively address the challenges and threats this region faces,” he said, adding that active involvement in Exercise Tradewinds reinforces a collective defence posture that benefits all participating nations.
The inclusion of GDFS Shahoud represents a major step in strengthening Guyana’s naval capabilities and its contribution to joint regional maritime operations.