More than ninety soldiers from Aruba and Curaçao have joined forces for a joint military training exercise, Caribbean Strike, which began on Tuesday, June 10, in Curaçao. The exercise, which will continue for the next two weeks, is taking place at various locations across the island, including Wacao, Ascension, and Playa Santa Cruz.
The soldiers from Aruba were transported aboard the support vessel Zr.Ms. Pelikaan, which brought them from Aruba to Curaçao. They are now collaborating with their Curaçaoan counterparts in a variety of military drills designed to sharpen their skills. These include tactical infiltration, reconnaissance patrols, marksmanship, urban warfare exercises, conducting attacks and ambushes, and more.
Military vehicles are being used to transport the troops between the different training sites.
Caribbean Strike is part of a broader initiative to enhance the professionalism and operational readiness of military units in the Caribbean. According to the Ministry of Defence, exercises like these help improve troop readiness, prepare soldiers for crisis response, and ensure they are equipped to provide emergency support when needed.