U.S. Navy Adm. Kurt W. Tidd, commander of U.S. Southern Command, visited Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago April 25 – 26 to meet with leaders and discuss U.S. security cooperation with both nations.
In Barbados, Tidd met with Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force, Col. Glyne Grannum, to discuss the ongoing partnership with Barbados security forces. Tidd also met with U.S. Ambassador to Barbados Linda Taglialatela during the trip.
Barbados is an important regional partner in the Caribbean. The island nation recently provided logistical support during the Fused Response 2018 exercise. This summer, Barbados will co-host the annual, multinational Tradewinds 2018 training exercise focused on Caribbean security.
In Trinidad and Tobago, Tidd first visited the training site for the recently completed Fused Response 2018 exercise, which was co-hosted by the Caribbean nation and included U.S. military, law enforcement and other agencies training with their Trinidad and Tobago counterparts.
Tidd met with Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon to discuss the important security and government-to-government partnership between both nations. Later, Tidd and Dillon conducted a press conference (Tidd’s Opening Statement at Press Conference).
Tidd also met with U.S. Chargé d'Affaires John McIntyre during the stop.
The United States and Trinidad and Tobago share a longstanding bilateral defense partnership that supports common interests and addresses challenges of mutual concern. The country routinely supports multinational Counter Threat Network operations and is a key contributor during various regional security exercises.