MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Joint Mercosur-France air exercises

French built Mirage fighter bombers from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and France participated during a week in the Southern Cross joint air co-ordination exercises in Southern Brazil.

Although the operation organized by the French and hosted by Brazilians in the powerful Canoas air base was seen as a Mirage Dassault sales promotion, the joint exercise in combination with a French Air Force AWAC was an excellent opportunity to test Mercosur air forces capabilities.

France participated with six of its latest model Mirage 2000 and Argentina with six Mirage V Dagger, three of them veterans of the Falklands war involved in the sinking of HMS Brilliant, Arrow and Alacrity. Brazil and Chile also displayed their air might, while the Uruguayan Air Force Commander General José Malaquín was invited as an observer.

"This is evidence of the mutual trust, peace and friendship in the Southern Cone and Mercosur", said Brigadier Carlos de Almeida Baptista Commander in Chief of the Brazilian Air Force.

"Our pilots have a chance to meet their counterparts and this generates a friendship that will extend for the whole of their careers", indicated General Patricio Ríos Ponce, Commander of the Chilean Air Force.

During the exercise France and Mercosur countries were part of a coalition defending an invaded country, "it's important countries learn how to work in coalitions, such as happened in the Gulf, Kosovo and Afghanistan", pointed out General Patrick Thouverez Commander of French Air Operations.

However Brazilian Brigadier Baptista quickly pointed out that "this is no springboard for a military Mercosur coalition, not does it mean we're involved in an arms race, it's simply an opportunity to test air capabilities".