Exercise Croix du Sud

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.

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.

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
 * HMAS Labuan heavy landing craft, HMAS Tarakan heavy landing craft, amphibious landing platform HMAS Kanimbla  Sea King helicopters, infantry from the 2nd Royal Australian Regiment (usually about a company), Hercules transport aircraft, and Super King Air utility aircraft.

Canada


 * Hercules transport aircraft.

Chile


 * Observers.

Fiji


 * Observers, an infantry platoon, the patrol boat RFNS Kula,

France


 * New Caledonia


 * Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine du Pacifique., vessels and troops of the Maritime Gendarmerie, National Gendarmerie, the frigate Vendémiaire, transport aircraft including CN-235, and local civilians


 * French Polynesia

Japan

New Zealand
 * HMNZS Canterbury multi-role/strategic sealift vessel, helicopters, and an infantry platoon from the 1st Battalion of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.

Papua New Guinea

The Red Cross

Singapore

Tonga

United Kingdom
 * Forces stationed in Brunei (probably Gurkhas).

United States of America
 * Troops from Hawaii including US Marines, and infantry and civil affairs soldiers from the 9th Mission Support Command.

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).