The UK Satellite Applications Catapult Center, a British centre of innovation in the end use of satellite-generated data, had a very successful visit to Chile 26 November - 4 December. The Catapult delegation was made up of Mark Hampson, Chief Innovation Officer, David Livingstone, subject matter expert, Simon Agass, Senior Earth Observation Specialist and Wyn Cudlip, consultant.
The UK showed its commitment to the UK/Chile defense relationship by sending a Royal Naval ship and the First Sea Lord to Exponaval 2014. The Type 45 Destroyer, HMS Dragon, made its first visit to Chile since commissioning and this was an opportune time for both navies to discuss their future modernization plans and acknowledge the important historic and enduring links between the two Services.
Argentina managed to include a special statement on the Falklands/Malvinas question, at the end of the Ibero American leaders summit held in Mexico, calling on both sides of the dispute, Argentina and the UK, to resume negotiations, in the shortest time possible, to reach a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas, South Georgia, South Sandwich islands and surrounding maritime spaces.
Winston Churchill dispatched 1,700 troops to the Falkland Islands in 1942 out of concern that the Japanese were planning to invade the territory and interfere with critical sea routes in the South Atlantic. In support of this plan Tokyo allegedly was prepared to hand control of the Falklands to Argentina, according to a piece in the Daily Telegraph, credited to Julian Ryall, from the Japanese capital.
Chilean foreign minister Jorge Burgos revealed this week that the presence of HMS Dragon in Valparaiso was authorized after having consulted with Argentina, and underlined that Chile strictly abides with what was agreed regarding the passage of British vessels through Chilean waters.
UK ambassador in Chile Fiona Clouder underlined the values and qualities of the Royal Navy and Chilean Navy during a reception on HMS Dragon, which called at Valparaíso for the week long Exponaval 2014, considered the most important naval, maritime and ports' exhibition in the southern hemisphere.
The Foreign Office did not incur any costs in providing assistance to the BBC Top Gear team which was recently in an Argentine tour and was forced to leave the country under protection, following alleged disrespectful references to the 1982 Falklands war by the team.
UK interest rates have been held at a record low of 0.5% for another month by the Bank of England. It also decided to maintain its quantitative easing program, designed to stimulate lending in the economy, at the £375bn already spent.
Britain plans to introduce a tax to target multinationals such as Google and Amazon accused of using complex accounting schemes to cut their payments on earnings in the country.
Chile's first Mayors Climate Change Forum, a local government-led initiative focused on cities, local territories and climate change took place in late November with the support of the British Embassy in Santiago.