MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

HMS Dragon in Chile; Argentine media recalls Mercosur ban on RN vessels

The Type 45 destroyer is one of the most modern vessels of the Royal Navy and is currently on South Atlantic deployment

Argentine media is reporting that HMS Dragon, Type 45 destroyer and one of the most modern vessels in the Royal Navy is currently in Valparaiso, Chile attending the Exponaval 2014, one of the main naval and maritime exhibition events in the Southern hemisphere.

 The expo was opened by Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and ends on Friday in the port of Viña del Mar. The show has a turnout of 140 exhibitors and naval delegations from over 80 countries were invited to the event including First Sea Lord and head of the Royal Navy Sir George Zambellas, KBC, DSC, ADC, who is attending.

El HMS Dragon is currently on Atlantic Patrol Tasking South replacing HMS Iron Duke which is on the last leg of her return to Portsmouth.

The destroyer's presence is strongly echoed in the Buenos Aires media following reports that Brazil and Chile are supporting logistically Royal Navy vessels in the South Atlantic, despite the fact that there is a Mercosur agreement, promoted by Argentina, that vessels somehow linked to the Falklands are barred from calling in any of the region's ports.

Allegedly “there are different types of support: joint training exercises; port support to UK vessels; resupply of fuel and repairs in the high seas and/or provisions in the continent camouflaged as courtesy visits”, writes La Nacion quoting 'reliable' naval sources. Likewise Argentina is only represented at the event by its naval attaché in Santiago, Captain Fabian D'Angelo.

The Argentine reports indicate HMS Dragon was involved in naval exercises with the Chilean navy before returning to Valparaíso for the opening of the Exponaval & Trans-Port 2014 event, which this year is focused on the issue, “Navies and their contribution to the environment and energy efficiency”.

”HMS Dragon is the fourth (out of six) Type 45 destroyer on duty since June 2010 built bu British Aerospace Systems, the same company contracted by the Chilean navy for the maintenance and refurbishing of the Type 22 and 23 frigates purchased from the Royal Navy between 2005 and 2008”, points out the report. She has stealth technology and is equipped with 48 Sea Viper missiles.