MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Head of British Army on three day official visit to Chile

General Sir Richard Dannatt

British Armed Forces Chief of the General Staff General Sir Richard Dannatt begun on Monday an official three-day visit to Chile invited by the Chilean Army.

A full agenda has been prepared for the head of the British Army including a “Victory Cross” medal honor which is awarded to those who contribute to establish close links and cooperation with the Chilean Army.

General Dannatt is scheduled to meet with Defense minister Francisco Vidal Salinas, Commander in Chief of the Army General Oscar Izurieta Ferrer and will be giving a conference to graduates at the Chilean Army War Academy.

The British general will be visiting several Chilean academic and field units such as the Institutes and Doctrine Command, Special Operations Brigade, both in the area of Santiago de Chile, and the Second Armoured Brigade and the Armoured Combat Training Centre in Iquique, north of Chile, according to the official release from the Chilean Army.

Chilean and British Armed Forces have a close relation going back almost two centuries when the Crown helped the Chileans fight for independence from the Spanish empire. The Chilean Navy and Air Force have for decades used British equipment.