From December 10 to 13, 2024, representing the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB), Major General Marco Antonio Álvarez Reyes, President of the IADB Council of Delegates; Major Brigadeiro do Ar Flávio Luiz de Oliveira Pinto, Director General of the IADB Secretariat; and Major General Richard J. Heitkamp, Director of the Inter-American Defense College (IADC), participated as Observers in the Caribbean Nations Security Conference (CANSEC) 2024, in the city of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
With the theme “Strengthening Bonds, Securing the Future: United for Regional Security”, which promoted mutual knowledge, analysis, debate and exchange of ideas and experiences, CANSEC 2024 had the participation of its Member States and as co-hosts Air Vice Marshal Darryl Daniel, Chief of Staff, Trinidad and Tobago Defence Forces and Vice Admiral Alvin Holsey, Commander of the U.S. Southern Command.
In his welcoming remarks, Air Vice Marshal Darryl Daniels mentioned that CANSEC is important to improve capabilities in the Caribbean Security environment, because it prepares them to contain multidimensional threats, Natural Disasters and Climate Change in a resilient and coordinated manner. On the other hand, he invited member countries and observers to continue strengthening the Women, Peace and Security programs in our Hemisphere, ending his speech by emphasizing that alliances help us strengthen Security through dialogue and consensus to overcome difficulties in the Caribbean region.
For his part, Vice Admiral Alvin Holsey mentioned that it is important to create a region with Security and prosperity, underlining the importance of the Inter-American Defense Board and the Inter-American Defense College, to achieve the path to lasting Security and growth for all. He also mentioned that CARICOM is an organization with economic purposes that shares continental identity values of decisive importance.
Diary
On the occasion of CANSEC 2024, the leadership of the IADB held the following Bilateral Meetings:
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), with Ms. Elizabeth Riley, Director of CDEMA.
Bahamas, with Commodore Raymond E. King, Chief of Defence of the Bahamas.
Belize, with Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Chief of Defence of Belize.
Suriname, with Colonel Werner Kioe A Sen, Official Commander of the National Army.
Trinidad and Tobago, with Air Vice Marshal Darryl Daniel, Chief of Defence Staff of Trinidad and Tobago.
Topics discussed during the Bilateral Meetings:
The significant personnel and financial support provided by the Ministries of Defense of the member countries to the IADB was noted.
The IADB's advisory capabilities on Defense and Security issues were promoted; the training offered through the IADB's master's degree and others outside the formal academic field, such as: workshops, conferences, seminars, exchange of teachers and collaborations in high-level research, on Humanitarian Assistance; Disaster Response; Humanitarian Demining; Cybersecurity and Cyberdefense; Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law; Promotion of Confidence and Security Measures, among others.
They were informed about the operation of the Disaster Cooperation Mechanism (MECODE), the Simulated Humanitarian Assistance Exercise (MECODEX) and the Simulated Joint Cyberattack Exercises, which help strengthen the inter-American system in the areas of security and defense, as well as multidimensional security.
Relevant aspects during the meetings:
The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) expressed its gratitude for the willingness of the IADB to reach out to Caribbean countries, noting that it will seek to strengthen the position of its organization in the IADB; it also indicated that together we can establish a Disaster Support Center with the possibility of being linked to MECODE, proposing joint activities with the IADB to study topics of common interest in the areas of Natural Disasters and Climate Change.
Bahamas, Belize, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to seek to boost their presence at the IADB, as well as to analyze the possibility of having members of those countries attend the Inter-American Defense College and/or increase their number.
Finally, during the course of the event, approaches and dialogues were held with the Ministers of Defense of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, the Dominican Republic and the United States; with Vice Admiral Alvin Holsey, Commander of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM); as well as with representatives of the Observer Organizations and the William J Perry Institute, in order to promote and strengthen or create ties of cooperation and collaboration between the IADB and the armed forces of their respective countries and said international organizations.
