U.S. Army General visits B.D.F. outposts

It is no secret that the Belize Defence Force and the United States army have a strong working relationship. Only last week, the New Horizons programme was launched and next week U.S. soldiers will be in Toledo conducting a Medical Readiness and Training Exercise. Later this year the B.D.F., along with the United States Southern Command, will be hosting soldiers from across the region in Trade Winds 2007. U.S. SouthCom is the administrative unit responsible for military activities in Central America, South America and the Caribbean. And since Uncle Sam is on good terms with most of the region’s nations, it’s not out of line for one of their top brass to pay a friendly visit … in this case, Deputy Commander, General Glenn Spears.

Brigadier General Lloyd Gillett, Commander, B.D.F.
“During his visit he will get a command brief of the B.D.F., visit Fairweather Camp, Cadenas, and Tree Tops O.P. He will also meet the Minister of Defence to discuss matters of mutual interest.”

General Glenn Spears, Deputy Commander, US SouthCom
“Recently my good friend General Ken Keen from the United States Army South had a chance to visit Belize and he and I together are then able to work with our respective commands to better focus the areas where we work together with Belize. So the importance is to be able to see firsthand what our forces are doing together, how well they are operating together.”

Brigadier General Lloyd Gillett
“We are grateful to have a partner like U.S. SouthCom to team up with to make the contribution to regional and hemispheric security. This cooperation builds capacity to combat the transnational threats that have such a negative impact on our region.”

General Glenn Spears
“The linkages between the United States and our friends throughout Central America, throughout the Caribbean, throughout Latin America, are strong and we are committed to maintaining those links.”

General Glenn Spears assumed his post in June 2006. He leaves the country on Friday.