Exercise Croix du Sud is a military exercise held every two years in New Caledonia, its surrounding waters and airspace. Many countries in the Pacific region take part in these exercises, which usually focus on delivering humanitarian aid, evacuating civilians, and reestablishing security in the wake of a simulated disaster.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
Overview
Croix du Sud is the French term for Southern Cross. It is the largest humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training exercise in the South Pacific. France hosts and organises the exercises through its New Caledonian Armed Forces, headquartered in Noumea.
In alternate years, the concept for the next Croix du Sud is developed through a desktop exercise called Equateur. A typical scenario would be a category-four cyclone disaster, resulting in poor sanitation, hunger, disease, and an outbreak of looting and rape which targets foreigners. Other scenarios have included extremists disrupting government control and inciting riots.
The Australian Department of Defence says Croix du Sud aims to maintain interoperability among regional defence and police forces. The exercise is also an opportunity to practise maritime surveillance, along with stability and security operations.
The exercise takes place in accordance with a 1992 agreement between France, Australia and New Zealand. In recent years, Australia has increased its military ties with France, buying submarines and acknowledging in white papers that France has interests in the region.
French Exercises Online Video
Participants
Many countries whose militaries are active in the Pacific Ocean have committed personnel and equipment to the exercise. NGOs have also taken part. Participants in past exercises have included:
Australia
Canada
Chile
Fiji
France
Japan
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
The Red Cross
Singapore
Tonga
United Kingdom
United States of America
Vanuatu
History
2008
2012
2014 (25 August to 5 September). The Australian Defence Force said 10 international defence forces took part. Another source said 11 countries took part. More than 1500 people were involved in the exercise.
2016 (9 to 18 November).
Source of the article : Wikipedia
EmoticonEmoticon