MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina/Chile Navies exchange in Punta Arenas

An officers exchange program between the Argentine and Chilean navies is taking place in the extreme south of the continent where only two and a half decades ago both neighboring countries almost went to war over disputed islands in the Magellan Strait region.

According to La Prensa Austral in mid August two Argentine officers joined Chile's III Naval Zone Marines Corp stationed in Punta Arenas and participated in joint patrol and long distance reconnaissance operations in the Seno Otway area. One of the Argentine officers is normally stationed in Ushuaia and the other in Rio Grande. "Our objective is confidence building and bringing closer the marine corps of both Navies", said Lieutenant Sebastian Carrasco from the Argentine Navy. As part of the exchange two Chilean Marine Corps officers stationed in Punta Arenas spent time with their counterparts in Ushuaia and Rio Grande