PHILIPSBURG: Dutch Defense forces in the Caribbean will spend the next two weeks testing their ability to respond to a major hurricane during the annual emergency exercise “Calm Horizon,” with operations taking place on Sint Maarten and Saba.
The Commander of the Navy in the Caribbean announced on Saturday, September 12, 2026, that military personnel will train alongside local security and emergency partners as part of preparations for possible hurricane-related disasters.
The exercise is intended to strengthen coordination between Defense and organizations that would have to work together if a powerful hurricane strikes either island.
Several military units and assets are being deployed during Calm Horizon, including the naval vessel HNLMS Pelikaan, FRISC fast boats, Curaçao military personnel (CURMIL), and Aruban military personnel (ARUMIL).
The units will operate on Sint Maarten and Saba on a rotating basis and will carry out different scenarios focused specifically on emergency assistance following the passage of a hurricane.
Military and Local Partners Train Together
A major component of the exercise will be cooperation between the military and local partners.
According to Defense, military personnel will work with government services, relief organizations, and private-sector companies involved in planning and carrying out emergency assistance.
The joint exercises are designed to coordinate procedures before a real emergency occurs, while also giving military personnel greater knowledge of the local environment where they could eventually be deployed.
The objective is to ensure Defense can move quickly if a hurricane strikes.
After a severe storm, military personnel could be called upon to provide emergency assistance, support civilian authorities, and help maintain public safety and order.
For islands such as Sint Maarten and Saba, where hurricanes can cause widespread infrastructure damage and disrupt essential services, preparedness and coordination between civilian and military authorities are critical to disaster response.
Preparing Before the Next Hurricane
Supporting communities affected by natural disasters is one of Defense's principal responsibilities in the Caribbean region.
The annual Calm Horizon exercise therefore aims to maintain operational readiness rather than waiting for an actual disaster to establish working procedures.
“Through exercises like ‘Calm Horizon’, Defense maintains the capabilities and partnerships to provide the best possible support to the islands' residents in the event of an actual crisis,” Defense stated.
The two-week operation will test not only military readiness but also the ability of Defense, local authorities, emergency organizations and other partners to work together under crisis conditions.
With Sint Maarten and Saba located in the Atlantic hurricane belt, the exercise comes during the active 2026 hurricane season and serves as a practical test of how quickly resources could be mobilized should the islands face a serious tropical cyclone.
