MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean/Argentine joint military exercises in Tierra del Fuego

Chile and Argentina Armed Forces begun Monday a joint military exercise, “Solidarity 2006” which simulates a natural disaster to the south of Tierra del Fuego in the extreme south of both countries, according to military sources.

The two main cities in Tierra del Fuego are involved in the operations, Ushuaia in Argentina and Puerto Williams in Chile.

Argentina has displayed an Army company with 108 men; 26 Marines; three helicopters; armored vehicles; two Navy men-o-wars, a speed vessel plus a Hercules C-130 and a Fokker F-27 from the Air Force.

Chile's contribution is an Army company, ambulances, armored vehicles, three Navy men-o-wars, a portable drinking water plant, a sanitary unit, helicopter and a Twin Otter.

The land-sea-air theatre of this year's "Solidarity" combined exercise is triggered by the lashings of a strong winds storm, heavy rainfall followed by blizzards which covers extensive areas of Tierra del Fuego's main island, Punta Arenas, Beagle Channel, Navarino Island and Puerto Williams.

Because of the storm Argentine and Chilean forces join into a combined unit with the purpose of helping and bringing humanitarian aid and relief to the locations hit by the extreme climatic phenomena.

According to the Argentine Armed Forces Joint Command the exercise will enable "to optimize cooperation and operational capabilities of the Armed Forces of both countries in the face of a natural catastrophe".

The exercise is scheduled to finish next Friday with the presence of both Ministers of Defense who also happen to be ladies: Argentina's Nilda Garré and Chile's Vivianne Blanlot.