From 19 to 21 September 2025, the overseas support and assistance vessel (BSAOM) Dumont d’Urville participated in the Calm Horizon exercise conducted by the Dutch armed forces in the Caribbean.
After recovering Mariniers (Dutch naval troops) on the island of Saba, the French ship went off the coast of Saint-Martin to carry out several maneuvers alongside the HNLMS Pelikaan , a support ship of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The sailors were then disembarked on the island of Saint-Martin before the maneuvers resumed with the Dutch ship.
The Dumont d’Urville then took advantage of its presence in the area to carry out a patrol mission and thus contribute to the reaffirmation of French sovereignty in the territorial waters of the island.
Conducted annually, the Calm Horizon exercise contributes to the operational preparation of Dutch forces in the event of natural disasters, particularly during this cyclone season.
As the Netherlands shares the island of Saint-Martin with France, the participation of French forces in the exercise is regular, thus promoting interoperability between the two armies which is essential in order to be able to act quickly and effectively if necessary.
The Armed Forces in the Antilles constitute a leading joint force in the Caribbean. Based in Martinique and Guadeloupe, nearly 1,300 soldiers guarantee the protection of the national territory and their presence provides France with significant operational capabilities, deployable at short notice, to respond to a security crisis or conduct assistance operations for populations affected by a natural disaster in the Caribbean Sea. The air-maritime component of the FAA regularly participates in missions relating to State action at sea, in particular the fight against illicit trafficking and the protection of the marine environment. The FAA develops military cooperation with its allies and partners in the Caribbean region.