MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine/Chilean military exercise in Comodoro Rivadavia

Argentina and Chile ended on Friday a five day military exercise under the name of “Aurora Austral II” which took place in the Argentine Patagonian city of Comodoro Rivadariva with the purpose of confidence building and establishing closer links between the two countries armed forces.

According to a release from the Argentine Defence ministry "this is a further step in confidence building which we have jointly launched with Chile and has become state policy". Argentine Secretary for Military Affairs German Montenegro said the purpose of the exercise was "confidence building and cooperation in peace keeping operations" in which forces from Argentina and Chile participate under command of United Nations. He added this "is also an exercise in preparation for the Bi-national Peace Force "Southern Cross" which is currently in the building process and will represent a significant contribution from both countries to helping keep international security". At the closing ceremony on Friday Mr. Montenegro was joined by Chubut province governor Mario Das Neves, Comodoro Rivadavia mayor Martin Buzzi, Argentine and Chilean Army Commanders, General Roberto Bendini and Oscar Izurieta respectively and the head of the local brigade, General Alvaro Carlés. It was precisely General Carlés who underlined the "advances achieved in the Argentine-Chilean integration process which only a few years ago was unthinkable" and recalled that the idea of a combined peace force, "Southern Cross" was agreed in 2005 and 2006 meetings. A total of 270 personnel participated in the "Aurora Austral II" exercise, basically instruction and correcting errors from previous experiences. A fictitious nation Danto and a civil war hypothesis scenario call for the involvement of a peace force from United Nations made up of Chilean and Argentine personnel. "Peace forces must have credibility, must not be seen as occupation forces and we must keep present at all times that a single error from a solider in the peace mission impacts on his country's prestige", pointed out General Carlés. The peace keeping game was both a class exercise but also on field action with Argentine forces under Chilean command and vice versa. "Most of the 95 options of the exercise were addressed, which had us appeal to all forces, including local law enforcement officers and health personnel support, which helped with an air evacuation of an injured solider and a display of mechanized and armored vehicles to contain protestors trying to take over compounds" added the Argentine general who pointed out the success of the exercise. The first "Aurora Austral I" took place last year in Santiago de Chile in the War Academy from Chile's Second Division and was a virtual exercise. This time however was a live display on the ground with air support.