Operation Poseidon's Watch

  

Operation Poseidon's Watch
Part of 2021–23 Caribbean diplomatic crisis and Cross-Sea conflict
Antillean patrol boats off the coast of Hispaniola during a routine patrol, February 12, 2022
Date February 9, 2022 – present Location Caribbean Sea Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Antilles Supported by: Conference of American States Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Bahamas Barbados Brazil Dominica Grenada Patagonia Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	United Commonwealth United People's Committees Supported by: Bolivia North Vietnam Equatorial States
Commanders and leaders
Arian Lawrence	Daniel Muir
Units involved
United Commonwealth Navy Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard Argentine Navy Royal Bahamas Defence Force Barbados Coast Guard Imperial Brazilian Navy Dominica Coast Guard Coast Guard of Grenada Saint Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard	Continental Navy United People's Navy

Operation Poseidon's Watch is the codename for an ongoing military operation being carried out by the United Commonwealth Armed Forces of the Antilles in and around the Caribbean Sea since February 9, 2022 in cooperation with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Part of the wider Caribbean crisis, the operation began in the aftermath of a series of terrorist attacks across Anglo-America which pushes the Antillean government into mobilizing its armed forces. The operation is defensive and involves the patrolling and security of the Antilles' maritime borders as well as supporting such efforts by members of the Conference of American States within the region and since February 12, has included giving military escort towards civilian ships going into and through the Caribbean, including CAS and European Community member states and the ships of the Cairbbean merchant fleet since the latter's formation around January 2022.

The operation was ordered by President Arian Lawrence and has been in cooperation with CAS member states with the organization endorsing the operation so long as it remains defensive and has allowed its member states to join in of their own accord. The United Commonwealth for its part has condemned the operation and has mobilized elements of the Continental Armed Forces, mainly those of the Continental Fleet to conduct patrols of its martime borders and similar regions of the Caribbean Sea as well. On February 14, Brazil and Argentina joined the operation in response to the Valentine Plot and both the West Indies and Patagonia joined on March 3 following the Caribbean Sea incident the day before, propelling them into participating in the operation in conjunction with the Antillean fleet.

Operation Poseidon's Watch is the largest military operation in the history of the Antilles since the formation of is military and is the largest operation of the Antillean Navy since the Antillean War of 1982 where the Antillean military invaded the Bahamas to overthrow the New Jewel Movement government from power. The involvement of four CAS member states has seen an exception increase in CAS–Antillean cooperation and an improvement in their relations, while also worsening Continental–CAS relations and represents a new phase in the enduring Cross-Sea conflict between the two states vying for control over the Caribbean and the American mainland.

Background

Caribbean disputes

Main articles: Cross-Sea conflict and Gulf of Mexico crisis

The Caribbean and nearby Caribbean sea has been a source of territorial dispute and tension between the Antilles and the United Commonwealth since the end of the Continental Revolutionary War in 1921 and the formation of the Continental States with the singing of the Union Treaty of 1922. During Great War I, the Caribbean Sea was highly contested between the Continental Navy of the mainland and the United Commonwealth Navy of the Antilles with the former winning most engagements and it lead to the Operation Hercules, the attempted land invasion of the Antilles by the Continental Army. While the Virgin Islands was successfully captured and occupied, the rest of the Antilles would not be invaded as its geography made an invasion predictable and so the rest of the country was subjected to perpetual strategic bombing for the rest of the war outside of various amphibious landing attempts.

During the Interwar period, the Caribbean and nearby Gulf of Mexico was a source of tension and would persist well into the Cold War outside of a period of wartime cooperation during Great War II. The Continental Armed Forces would increase its presence on the coast in anticipation for a potential invasion of the Antilles, but planning for the invasion occured throughout the Cold War and wouldn't properly materialize until the 1970s when the plan was finalized and attempts were made to carry out the invasion.

Amazonas incident and aftermath

Main articles: Amazonas incident and 2021–22 Caribbean diplomatic crisis

On 15 December 2021, the Amazonas of the Imperial Brazilian Navy was attacked while on patrol in the Caribbean Sea by the Continental Navy per the request of the Andean government claiming that the Amazonas had violated the Andes' territorial waters. The Antilles condemned the attack and began a partial emergency mobilization in response fearing a potential attack on either the Antilles or any OECS member states.

Terrorism in North America

Main article: 2022 North American terror attacks

Timeline

Early operations

Patrol ships from the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard and the Grenada Coast Guard participating in the operation.

Caribbean Sea incident

Main article: Caribbean Sea incident

See also

• 2021–23 Caribbean diplomatic crisis
• Caribbean Sea incident
• Antilles–Conference of American States relations
• Cross-Sea conflict