From April 5 to 7, Barbados hosted the Caribbean Nations Security Conference in Bridgetown. France, a Caribbean nation through the territories of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy, participated as every year. Rear Admiral (CA) Eric Aymard, Commander of the FAA represented the Chief of the Defense Staff during the 2022 edition.
The Caribbean region carries several important issues for France: the protection of its nationals first, with nearly a million French people living in the region, the respect of its sovereignty and its economic interests then, the economic zone representing twice the Mediterranean Sea, and finally, the presence of the Guiana Space Center, a unique strategic point of access to space for France. Beyond these French specificities, the Caribbean States face major common risks. An area very exposed to cyclones and earthquakes, weakened by global warming, the Caribbean is also at the heart of illicit trafficking, narcotics in particular intended for the region but mainly for Europe and North America.
"Caribbean 2022": a life-size exercise organized in June in Saint-Martin
These challenges call for strengthened international cooperation. As such, the French armed forces regularly cooperate with its foreign military partners, regional organizations and humanitarian actors in the event of natural disasters and to guarantee the safety of populations. To do this, the FAA take part in foreign exercises and conduct operational military partnership actions. Above all, they organize and will lead the major Eastern Caribbean exercise "CARIBBEAN 2022" in June, which will take place in Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante, Martinique and Saint-Martin with the participation of the United States, the Netherlands , United Kingdom, Canada and the Dominican Republic. All the senior military officials of the Caribbean States will be invited to come and attend a capacity demonstration of the means deployed during the closing ceremony of this emblematic exercise.
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