Editing Turks and Caicos Islands (section)

===Military and defence===
The defence of the [[Turks and Caicos Islands]] is the responsibility of the [[United Kingdom]]. The [[Royal Navy]] maintains a persistent presence in the [[Caribbean]] through the [[List of Royal Navy deployments|Atlantic Patrol Task (North)]] mission.<ref name=":1" /> [[HMS Medway]], a [[River-class offshore patrol vessel|River-class]] offshore patrol vessel, is regularly deployed to the region, including visits to the Turks and Caicos Islands.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=HMS Medway visits Turks and Caicos during Caribbean patrols |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2024/november/29/20241129-hms-medway-visits-turks-and-caicos-during-patrols |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.royalnavy.mod.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Candlin |first=Alex |date=2024-12-01 |title=HMS Medway strengthens UK's commitment to allies during Caribbean hurricane season |url=https://www.forcesnews.com/services/navy/hms-medway-strengthens-uks-commitment-allies-during-caribbean-hurricane-season |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.forcesnews.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HMS Medway {{!}} Royal Navy |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/organisation/units-and-squadrons/river-class/hms-medway |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.royalnavy.mod.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Patrol Ship's Visit Underscores Caribbean Commitment |url=https://www.navyleaders.com/news/patrol-ships-visit-underscores-caribbean-commitment |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Navy Leaders 2022 |language=en-GB}}</ref> During a visit in November 2024, HMS Medway conducted disaster response exercises and engaged with local authorities to reinforce the [[United Kingdom|UK]]'s commitment to regional security and humanitarian assistance.<ref name="cia.gov"/><ref name=":1">{{cite web | url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2020/january/20/200120-hms-medway-sets-sail-for-the-caribbean | title=HMS Medway sets sail for the Caribbean | publisher=Royal Navy | date=20 January 2020 | access-date=18 October 2022 | archive-date=10 May 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510053232/https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2020/january/20/200120-hms-medway-sets-sail-for-the-caribbean | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Royal Navy ship demonstrates commitment to Caribbean security during visit to Turks and Caicos Islands |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/royal-navy-ship-demonstrates-commitment-to-caribbean-security-during-visit-to-turks-and-caicos-islands |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> In response to a surge in gang-related violence in 2022, the [[Royal Fleet Auxiliary]] deployed [[RFA Tideforce]] to the Turks and Caicos Islands.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-12 |title=RFA Tideforce deployed to Turks and Caicos Islands to help tackle surge in gang violence |url=https://www.forcesnews.com/uk/rfa-tideforce-deployed-turks-and-caicos-islands-combat-surge-gang-violence |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.forcesnews.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bird |first=Rebecca |date=2022-11-08 |title=‘Barbaric’ homicides surge in Turks and Caicos amid drug-related violence |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/08/turks-and-caicos-homicides-surge-gang-violence |access-date=2025-05-14 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Equipped with a Wildcat helicopter, Tideforce provided surveillance support to local law enforcement agencies to address the escalating security concerns.<ref name=":4">{{cite web | url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/royal-navy-deploys-to-help-fight-gang-violence-in-turks-caicos | title=Royal Navy Deploys to Help Fight Gang Violence in Turks & Caicos | access-date=4 November 2022 | archive-date=4 November 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104003201/https://maritime-executive.com/article/royal-navy-deploys-to-help-fight-gang-violence-in-turks-caicos | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Navy helps suppress surge in gang violence on UK Overseas Territory |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2022/november/02/221101-tideforce-suppresses-gang-violence-in-turks-and-caicos |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.royalnavy.mod.uk |language=en}}</ref>

====Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment====
{{Main|Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment}}In December 2019, [[Nigel Dakin|Governor Nigel Dakin]] announced the formation of the [[Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment]], with assistance from the [[Ministry of defence|UK's Ministry of Defence]]. The regiment is modeled after similar units in other [[British Overseas Territories]] and focuses on national security, disaster response, and engineering support.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tcweeklynews.com/tci-to-build-its-own-military-regiment-p10218-127.htm|title=TCI to build its own military regiment|website=tcweeklynews.com|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-date=16 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216110839/http://tcweeklynews.com/tci-to-build-its-own-military-regiment-p10218-127.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In spring 2020, a Security and Assistance Team from the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|United Kingdom Ministry of Defence]] arrived in Turks and Caicos to assist with the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the Turks and Caicos Islands|COVID-19 pandemic]], the [[2020 Atlantic hurricane season]], and to help build the new Turks and Caicos Regiment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://turksandcaicostourism.com/arrival-of-a-security-assistance-team-in-tci-from-the-uk/|title=Arrival Of A Security Assistance Team In TCI From The Uk|date=23 April 2020|access-date=8 August 2020|archive-date=8 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708173218/http://turksandcaicostourism.com/arrival-of-a-security-assistance-team-in-tci-from-the-uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> The regiment became operational in 2020, with [[Lieutenant colonel|Lieutenant Colonel]] Ennis Grant appointed as its first [[commanding officer]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-03 |title=In The News |url=https://www.tcicadetcorps.com/in-the-news/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Turks & Caicos Islands Cadet Corps |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> Since its inception, the regiment has participated in various training exercises and operations, including joint disaster response drills with HMS Medway during its 2024 visit.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://tcweeklynews.com/tci-regiment-gets-its-first-commanding-officer-p10693-127.htm|title=TCI Regiment gets its first commanding officer|website=tcweeklynews.com|access-date=7 July 2020|archive-date=22 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822163703/https://tcweeklynews.com/tci-regiment-gets-its-first-commanding-officer-p10693-127.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" />