Chile Hosts Military Exercises of the U.S. Southern Command
War Ships of Chilean Army, Aug 2024 Photo: Armada Chile
September 3, 2024 Hour: 6:17 pm
They are authorized by the government of Gabriel Boric and has the organization of the minister of defense, Maya Fernández Allende.
The UNITAS 2024 multinational naval exercise, organized by the United States Southern Command and the Chilean Navy, began on Monday in the city of Valparaíso, in the Andean country.
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The operations of the year are carried out between 2 and 12 September, with the participation of 24 countries, 17 ships, 2 submarines and 23 aircraft on the coasts of the regions of Coquimbo, Valparaiso and Magallanes.
Chilean Vice-Admiral Claudio Maldonado, expressed that “we are very happy to be able to participate in this exercise» because «it also allows us to show the capabilities and preparation for planning and conducting operations that the Chilean Navy has”.
He went further and celebrated that “We also have the great opportunity to share with NATO countries and with countries that possess the latest technologies, so as to be able to share all the procedures and ways of operating that allow us to grow as a Navy and as a country”.
His counterpart, the Second Commander of the US Fourth Fleet, Rear Admiral Richard S. Lofgren, expressed great confidence that this encounter would be a great success, commenting that it is about “a beautiful experience, it is a real honor to be able to participate in this exercise that has been taking place for 65 years and to work together with allies and friends to continue strengthening our vision of international cooperation”.
This is the second time in less than a month that the government of Gabriel Boric, whose Defense Minister is Amaya Fernández Allende, has participated in military games with the U.S. in the Pacific Ocean. In the past, he took part in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC 2024) war games, also coordinated by Washington.
U.S. military activity in the Pacific region is continuing in its particular push against China.
Although Boric has publicly distanced himself from the Zionist regime in the wake of the brutal aggression that this country is committing in the Gaza Strip, Chile was twinned with Israel in these exercises which were invited by the US.
