MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil and Argentina sign ‘combined military operations’ agreement

Joint Staff chief General Jose Carlos de Nardi: ‘confidence building measures’

Brazil announced on Monday its first agreement on combined operations with Argentina which will allow the two countries forces to act jointly in catastrophe situations and peace missions.

“It’s a measure which promotes confidence building in military affairs between two friendly nations”, said General Jose Carlos de Nardi, Chief of the Joint Staff of Brazil’ Armed Forces in a release.

Also known as the ‘combined doctrine’, the agreement started to be discussed two years ago and has instructions for the two countries to operate combined in situations of national emergency and international peace missions.

Argentina has already subscribed a similar agreement of combined operations in catastrophe scenarios with Peru and is expected to do likewise with Chile and Bolivia. For Brazil it is the first agreement of this characteristic added the release.

Last Friday Chilean and Argentine forces were effectively involved in a joint exercise of the Bi-national Peace Force, identified as “Southern Cross” which took place in Bahía Blanca.

“For Chile it represents great pride to be part of the Southern Cross Bi-national Peace Force, which is being structured and already has a combined life with the Argentine Armed Forces”, said Chilean Defence Rodrigo Hinzpeter.

The minister added that the bi-national force Southern Cross was programmed to be on duty for the United Nations peace keeping efforts, and is expected to be operational in 2013 with humanitarian aid missions.

Hinzpeter and his Argentine peer Arturo Puricelli also considered the drafting of emergency protocols for humanitarian de-mining which is currently taking place along the shared border in Patagonia. The protocol refers to medical attention and support in the event of accidents.

“Our country is involved in de-mining activities in the austral zone and different islands, and many times we have anticipated that in the event of a tragedy, an accident, arising from the de-mining activities flying the victim to Chilean hospitals can take longer and have more delays. Thus the protocols are there so that we can fly to military hospitals in Ushuaia or Argentine civilian hospitals in Rio Grande. This will help us gain time for those who might be injured”, said Minister Hinzpeter.