MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine destroyer in North Atlantic operations

For the first time ever an Argentine destroyer will be participating in exercises in the North Atlantic with the United States Navy.

ARA Sarandí left Argentina last May and after a technical call in Puerto Rico headed for Norfolk where she is undergoing refurbishment operations plus the installation of state of the art communications system and electronics to be able to link with the US Navy fleet.

The crew is currently taking courses for the new equipment and everything should be ready for December when the ARA Sarandí will be participating in a major exercise in the North Atlantic with the air carrier "Enterprise", 18th Destroyers Squadron and logistic support vessels.

ARA Sarandí has been with the Argentine Navy since 1984 and regularly is involved in the annual Unitas naval exercises sponsored by the United States in conjunction with the Brazilian and Uruguayan navies and support aircraft along the Atlantic from Recife to the Magellan Strait.

Argentine naval sources in Buenos Aires indicated that the purpose of the exercise and training is to prepare for further involvement of the Argentine Navy in United Nations sponsored peace keeping operations.

Joint "Solidarity" exercises in Patagonia

Argentine and Chilean Defence officials meeting in Santiago are involved in the creation of a combined unit of helicopters for United Nations peace keeping operations.

The event held in the framework of the VII Chief of Staffs consultation meetings also included regular issues such as a review of the confidence building process, exchange of officers, joint exercises and both countries experiences in UN operations.

Chilean and Argentine military have a vast experience in helicopter logistic and support operations for United Nations in several continents.

Chilean forces recently joined the Argentine peace keeping contingent in Cyprus.

Both Chief of Staff delegations also finished preparations for the coming "Solidarity" joint exercise to be held in the second half of October in Río Turbio, close to Punta Arenas, as part of the Joint Support Agreement on Natural Catastrophes. The coming edition of the exercise contemplates rescue operations following a several days blizzard.

The regular top brass meetings started under former presidents Carlos Menem and Eduardo Frei are geared to address security, defence and military issues with the purpose of emphasizing cooperation in border areas, Patagonia and the extreme south of the continent.