MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina, Peru and Chile navies powers, “balanced”

Chile is not involved in an arms race, just replacing old units and by 2008 the navies of Argentina, Peru and Chile “will be quite evenly balanced”, stated Chilean Navy commander Admiral Rodolfo Codina Díaz.

During a regular inspection visit last week to Chile's III Naval Zone in Punta Arenas, the newly named Admiral Codina Diaz said that the purchased British and Dutch frigates will be fully operational with the Chilean navy by 2008.

By 2008, "when we have all the new frigates, Peru will have incorporated eight Italian built Lupo frigates and the Argentine Navy an even greater number although with a few more years, so it all compensates. The three navies are quite evenly balanced".

"We're not involved in any arms race, simply decommissioning vessels and replacing them with new NATO purchased frigates", highlighted the Admiral. "The four plus four frigates are totally compatible, they have data and communications systems compatible and are all powered by Rolls Royce turbines, however they represent a tremendous challenge because of the technological changes", admitted Admiral Codina Diaz.

Chile also is building two high seas maritime patrols, 1,800 tons displacement, 80 metres long, "which should be incorporated in 2007 and 2008, and we're also considering the possibility of replacing an oceanographic research vessel, an Antarctic exploration vessel or an oil tanker".

Admiral Codina Diaz who as a young officer spent several years in different duties in the Magallanes region added it was a great challenge for the Chilean Navy to oversee and monitor the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve recently created by Unesco and which includes three million hectares of maritime coastal areas.

"The Navy is responsible for the area and we have to keep a balance between conservation and sustainable tourism".