MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Newly reinstated US Navy IV Fleet “poses no threat” to region

The commander of United States Southern Command, Admiral James Stavridis reassured Latin American military chiefs that reinstating the US IV Fleet in the region posed no threat and will respect maritime claims, including offshore oil reserves.

"It is not an offensive force in any way" said Admiral Stavridis on Thursday addressing a meeting of military chiefs from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay in Brasilia. The head of Brazil's oil market regulator had said on Wednesday he was worried the US might contest the country's rights over huge oil reserves lying in a so-called exclusive economic zone. "The United States will respect the territorial seas and exclusive economic zones of nations of the world" insisted Admiral James Stavridis, when asked about Brazil's concern. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which the US has signed but not ratified, says coastal states have exclusive economic zones extending 200 nautical miles, where they enjoy exclusive rights over all natural resources. The US IV Fleet, which the US Navy is reestablishing six decades after decommissioning it, will help combat drug trafficking in Latin America and the Caribbean, added Stavridis. "The IV Fleet's entire purpose is cooperation, friendship, response to natural disaster, missions of peace and, yes, there will be counter narcotics work, as is traditional. It is not an offensive force in any way" said the admiral. "The largest ship that will work for the Fourth Fleet is a hospital ship," Stavridis said. The IV Fleet was a major US navy command during World War II when it was used to enforce blockades and protect against enemy submarines and raiders, but was eliminated in the 1950s. From July 1 it will take operational responsibility over US Navy ships assigned to the region from the US Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, based out of Florida.