On July 10, 2026, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda’s Office of Strategic Communications issued an official statement on behalf of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) National Security Planning Committee (NSPC), celebrating the successful conclusion of the three-day national security readiness drill codenamed Exercise STRONGHOLD, which ran from July 8 to 10.
The NSPC opened its statement by extending sincere gratitude to the entire population of Antigua and Barbuda for their steady patience, active cooperation, and clear understanding throughout the duration of the large-scale drill. Organizers confirmed that the exercise fully met all pre-set strategic and operational objectives, marking a critical milestone in the island nation’s preparations to host the 2026 CHOGM later this year.
As a core component of Antigua and Barbuda’s pre-summit security planning, Exercise STRONGHOLD was designed to put the country’s existing national security protocols, emergency response frameworks, inter-agency coordination mechanisms, communication infrastructure, and large-scale international event management capacity to a rigorous real-world test. Over the three-day period, hundreds of security personnel and emergency responders carried out a full suite of coordinated operational activities across key strategic locations across Antigua. These drills covered everything from official convoy movement simulations, enhanced traffic management protocols, venue security screening and access control, to structured mock emergency response scenarios that challenged teams to adapt to rapidly evolving situations.
Beyond validating existing plans, the exercise provided an unparalleled opportunity for stakeholders to identify gaps in current readiness and refine operational workflows ahead of the summit, ensuring that visiting heads of government, international delegates, and all summit attendees will be hosted in a safe and secure environment. Organizers emphasized that every operational goal set for the exercise was achieved, highlighting the exceptional level of professionalism, discipline, and unwavering commitment shown by all participating agencies and personnel.
The seamless coordination and collaborative execution of responsibilities across teams underscored the growing strength of partnerships between Antigua and Barbuda’s national security forces, emergency response services, and cross-government supporting agencies. The NSPC also extended specific commendation to the country’s business community and multiple government ministries and departments, whose flexibility and proactive collaboration with planning teams were central to the drill’s smooth execution.
Special recognition was also given to local media outlets, whose responsible, accurate coverage and timely dissemination of exercise updates kept the public fully informed, reducing confusion and supporting the seamless rollout of all operational activities. The committee further acknowledged the contributions of dozens of additional public agencies, administrative departments, and community volunteers, whose behind-the-scenes work underpinned the exercise’s overall success.
Above all, the NSPC emphasized that the exercise could not have been completed without the buy-in of ordinary residents, motorists, and local business owners, many of whom were disrupted by temporary road closures, traffic diversions, and restricted access to certain areas during the drill. The committee noted that the public’s patience, cooperation, and civic-minded commitment to hosting a successful summit were the most critical factors enabling the safe and efficient execution of all exercise activities.
With preparations for 2026 CHOGM continuing through the remainder of the year, the NSPC says it looks forward to sustained collaboration and support from the public, private sector, government stakeholders, and all community partners as additional readiness exercises and planning activities are rolled out in the coming months. Reaffirming the country’s commitment to delivering a seamless, secure, and world-class summit, the committee noted that through intentional partnership, rigorous advance planning, and consistent preparedness, Antigua and Barbuda is on track to host a successful 2026 CHOGM and showcase the nation’s capacity to deliver a landmark international event.