The United States and Saint Kitts and Nevis are preparing to initiate the 2026 Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Teams (LAMAT) mission, marking a significant bilateral health security cooperation effort. Scheduled from February 23 to March 6, this initiative represents the third consecutive year of medical collaboration between the nations, designed to enhance medical readiness and expand healthcare access throughout the Caribbean region.
Medical professionals from the U.S. military will partner with local healthcare providers at Ministry of Health facilities across both islands. The mission will deliver comprehensive medical services including primary care, dental treatment, audiology services, emergency medicine, and preventive health consultations. Beyond direct patient care, the program emphasizes professional knowledge exchange and the development of collaborative best practices to strengthen long-term medical capabilities and regional resilience.
U.S. Air Force Col. Brian Gavitt, Air Forces Southern command surgeon, emphasized the strategic importance of the ongoing partnership: ‘LAMAT reflects the close partnership we share with Saint Kitts and Nevis and our mutual commitment to medical readiness. As we return for a third year, we are building on established relationships and trust—working side-by-side to strengthen capabilities and ensure our medical teams are prepared to respond together when it matters most.’
Led by U.S. Air Forces Southern, the LAMAT 2026 mission demonstrates the United States’ sustained commitment to Caribbean and Latin American partners through collaborative approaches to humanitarian assistance and disaster response preparedness. Saint Kitts and Nevis serves as the inaugural host nation in an extensive eight-week regional campaign that will subsequently include medical missions in Guyana, Suriname, and Saint Lucia.
The engagement will conclude with a formal ceremony on March 6, 2026, celebrating the accomplishments of the bilateral medical cooperation and reinforcing the strength of the U.S.–Saint Kitts and Nevis partnership.