The Royal Bahamas Defence Force recently commemorated the May 10, 1980, deaths of four Marines, who were killed after their patrol boat, the HMBS Flamingo, was attacked by Cuban warplanes. ROYAL BAHAMAS DEFENCE FORCE THE WATCH STAFF May 10th marked the 44th anniversary of the tragic 1980 sinking of the HMBS Flamingo – a Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) patrol vessel – by the Cuban military, which killed four Bahamian Marines and galvanized the RBDF to develop into the capable, resilient force it is today. The unprovoked attack on the Flamingo by Cuban MiGs, which occurred after the patrol boat…
The Watch
Barbados Defence Force Lt. Ramon Blackman assists his teammate, Ordinary Seaman Jada Worrell, during the Women, Peace, and Security Team Building Challenge at Paragon Base in Christ Church, Barbados, on May 11, 2024. SGT. JOSHUA TAECKENS/U.S. ARMY THE WATCH STAFF For nearly 40 years, the annual Tradewinds exercise has brought together dozens of regional allied and partner nations to improve the interoperability of their forces, build trust between command staffs and to strengthen ties and security in the Caribbean. This year, the exercise, which ran from May 4 to May 16, 2024, was hosted by Barbados, and its top-ranking military…
Royal Bahamas Defence Force Capt. Glenn McPhee congratulates the 10 graduates of a March 2024 advanced reconnaissance training program. ROYAL BAHAMAS DEFENCE FORCE THE WATCH STAFF The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) recently held its second annual reconnaissance training, completing the seven-week exercise with immigration officers to promote better coordination and interoperability among Bahamian national security forces. Interdicting and deterring illegal drug and migrant trafficking remain high priorities for the RBDF, and specialized training advances that mission. The course trained participants to “conduct amphibious and ground reconnaissance, direct-action missions, and effectively control supporting arms to provide critical military intelligence in…
Snipers train in the Arctic Edge exercise in 2022. Adapting military tactics in the harsh environment is a priority for the U.S. military. U.S. ARMY THE WATCH STAFF The Arctic presents challenges that don’t exist anywhere else in the world: extreme cold, wind, snow and ice and unpredictable weather patterns. Not to mention an almost complete lack of infrastructure. But the rapidly changing risk environment has made it expedient to train U.S. troops in all types of roles for a potential conflict in the region. Maintaining a military presence and capability in the Arctic is a high priority for the…
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force in April 2024 welcomed U.S. Sgt. Maj. James Porterfield, who is the principal advisor to U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command on all enlisted matters. ROYAL BAHAMAS DEFENCE FORCE THE WATCH STAFF The senior enlisted leader at United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) visited the Bahamas in April 2024 to exchange ideas and strategies as the partnership between the U.S. and the Bahamas continues to deepen. Sgt. Maj. James Porterfield, along with representatives from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and officials from USNORTHCOM, made the trip to “foster collaboration and…
A member of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, emerges from a snow shelter demonstration near Resolute Bay in preparation for Operation Nunalivut. CANADIAN ARMED FORCES THE WATCH STAFF Faced with what leaders characterize as an increasingly unstable and threatening security environment, Canada proposes to spend $5.9 billion on a five-year defense plan that focuses on the defense of its Arctic territory. Themed “Our North, Strong and Free,” the plan calls for nearly $53 billion over the next 20 years with major investments in weapons systems, war and reconnaissance planes, Arctic patrol vehicles and upgrades in housing and other support…
A Soldier performs advanced biological material analysis in low-visibility conditions during the recent Arctic Edge 24 exercise in Alaska. U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND THE WATCH STAFF U.S. Army Special Forces successfully completed experiments with the latest technology for sampling, detecting and monitoring biological material in harsh conditions during the recent Arctic Edge 24 exercise in Alaska. The latest iteration of Exercise Able Warrior demonstrated U.S. capabilities to defend against chemical, biological radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats to the homeland. “SOCOM J37 Exercise Able Warrior provides opportunities to focus attention on CBRN capabilities, assess CCMDs [unified combatant commands] CWMD [Countering Weapons…
Finland President Alexander Stubb visits the border checkpoint of Niirala on March 27, 2024. Stubb said his country needs to guard against Russian attempts to undermine national security through “hybrid operations” along the 800-mile border between Russia and the Nordic nation. X VIA GOVERNMENT OF FINLAND THE WATCH STAFF Newly elected Finland President Alexander Stubb visited his country’s border with Russia on March 27, 2024, as the government discusses measures to give Finns more tools to deter “hybrid influence” operations by its eastern neighbor. A little more than a week later, the government announced an indefinite extension of the border…
Royal Bermuda Regiment Soldiers traveled to Barbados in February 2024 to train defense and security personnel on how to handle public disorder situations. ROYAL BERMUDA REGIMENT THE WATCH STAFF The Royal Bermuda Regiment trained police, prison and defense personnel from seven other Caribbean nations on how to teach public order techniques, part of a longstanding practice of regional collaboration. Two Royal Bermuda Regiment soldiers traveled to Barbados recently to lead the training as part of the Regional Security System, a coalition of Caribbean member states that work together to address common security issues. The soldiers taught security personnel from Antigua…
Norway announced plans in April 2024 to buy long-range drones, possibly similar to the RQ-B Global Hawk, to bolster its surveillance of the Barents Sea and Arctic region. NORTHRUP GRUMMANN THE WATCH STAFF Norway will purchase large drones capable of long-range surveillance in the Barents Sea and station them at a reopened air base on an island in the far north of the Nordic country. The government announced the reopening of Andøya Air Station, 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, in April 2024, saying the plans to buy the drones will improve Norway’s domain awareness in an increasingly tense…