US Marines come to Aruba to practice. The Caribbean Coastal Warrior exercise will start on June 5. In this annual exercise, marines of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) train together with the Dutch marines of the Marine Squadron Carib. The exercise will last until July 4.
Military cooperation between the United States and the Netherlands is close. The USMC and the Marine Corps consider each other as permanent partners. The US Marines of the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion regularly practice in Aruba. Conversely, the Dutch marines of the Marine Squadron Carib (formerly 32 Raiding Squadron) also train annually in the United States. That happened last March.
Caribbean Coastal Warrior is an exercise in which mainly diving activities are central. For example, frogmen from the Netherlands participate in the exercise. They conduct various qualifying and certifying dives with the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Corps provides diving instructors, collaborating with the US navies to align diving procedures more closely. This should improve effectiveness in the case of genuine joint efforts.
Training Hub
The waters of Aruba are an extremely suitable training location for both marine units. With the combination of water temperature and clarity and logistical support from marine barracks Savaneta, the conditions are optimal for an effective and successful exercise. Caribbean Coastal Warrior fits within the ambitions of Defense in the Caribbean to position itself more (internationally) as a military training hub, both on land, on and in the water.
COVID
The US Marines adhere to all of Aruba’s COVID rules. They have been tested before departure. About 30 US Marines are coming.
