NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) — The Royal Bahamas Defence Force will be hosting the largest military training exercise of its kind next month.

Tradewinds 2018 is an annual regional military training exercise that will be held in The Bahamas from the 14th to 21st of June.

This year’s exercise will focus on countering transnational organised crime in the region.

The main objective of the military event is to foster training for security forces that is ‘tailored for the region by the region.’

The annual exercise is sponsored by the United States Southern Command.

This year’s Tradewinds will consist of 22 partner nations from the Caribbean region, the wider Americas and Western Europe.

Additionally, the exercise will consist of over 400 troops from various Caribbean nations that are expected to put their military training to test.

Phase one of the Tradewinds Exercise will take place in St Kitts Nevis beginning June 3 and culminating on June 13.

This preliminary training will prepare forces for the final training and implementation phase in The Bahamas the final phase will take place here from June 14 – June 21 and will consist of simulated terrorist attacks on the island of New Providence.

Tradewinds 2017 was held in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Bahamas last hosted Tradewinds in 2009.