U.S. Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), visited Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica May 7 – 9, 2025, to meet with government and defense officials for discussions on security cooperation.
Holsey’s engagements highlight the longstanding defense partnerships in both nations and served as forums to discuss shared challenges that affect the Southern Caribbean, including transnational organized crime and illegal immigration.
In Trinidad and Tobago May 7, Holsey and U.S. embassy Chargé d’Affaires Dr. Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz held a meeting with Minister of Defense Wayne Sturge, Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander, & Chief of Defence Staff Air Vice Marshal Darryl Daniel to discuss bilateral defense cooperation.
On May 8, Holsey took part in the closing ceremony for the Tradewinds 2025 multinational exercise, which was hosted by Trinidad and Tobago. The two-week exercise focused on Caribbean security and included over 1,300 military and security personnel from 24 nations.
In Jamaica May 9, Holsey met with Chief of Defence Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force, Rear Adm. Antonette Wemyss-Gorman, to discuss Caribbean security and efforts to advance bilateral security cooperation.
SOUTHCOM is one of the nation’s six geographically focused unified commands with responsibility for U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, Central America and South America, as well as security cooperation with defense and public-security forces in the region.