The Argentine Navy prepares the destroyer ARA Sarandi to participate in the UNITAS LXV exercise.

Prior to his participation in Fraternal Exercise XXXVII with the Brazilian Navy, The Argentine Navy is preparing the destroyer ARA “Sarandí” (D-13) within the framework of the international exercise UNITAS LXV, which will be carried out in Chile from September 2 to 13, together with other navies of the Americas. Waters and areas near Puerto Altea and Valparaiso.

Increasing cooperation for the security of the region, the Argentine Navy’s international deployment includes the Marine Corps, Naval Aviation, Special Forces Command and Rescue Service, and Navy Diving. Under the responsibility of Captain Leandro Ezequiel Nonite, Commander of the Destroyer Division, with the creation of a General Staff that coordinates with the various participating nations.

In this version, UNITAS LXV will have the participation of 24 countries with 19 surface units, 12 observers, 19 aircraft and more than 4,000 troops. Organized annually by the US Navy, the exercise is carried out within the framework of the Inter-American Mutual Assistance Treaty, which originated at the First Naval Conference held in Panama in 1959.

The participation of the Argentine Navy in the 65th edition of UNITAS represents an excellent opportunity to train together with the navies of the countries of the region, since operations will be highlighted at the level of the surface units in which they will be trained. Establish international standards for participating teams and troops, among others, to support training in techniques and tactics with various operational scenarios, amphibious, diving, special forces and naval aviation operations.

Chief of the Naval General Staff Rear Admiral Allevi pointed out the importance of the Argentine Navy in an interview conducted by Joana Militar. On that occasion, a senior naval officer pointed out “One of the ships participating in the Frederno exercise with the Brazilian fleet will continue with that Brazilian ship, and will participate in the multinational operation in which all the navies of the Western Hemisphere will participate, as well as other navies invited. “The UNITAS operation against the coasts of Chile, especially in front of Dalcahuano and Valparaiso.

It is worth remembering that the last edition in which Argentina participated was in UNITAS LX in 2019, using the ARA destroyer “Almirante Brown” (D-10) and the ARA transport “Bahía San Blas” (B-4). With 372 crew, it forms part of the Marine (UNITAS Lant) and Amphibious (UNITAS Amphibious) phases.

In the following years, the Argentinian Navy was not in UNITAS, because of the frequently mentioned lack of political will, which delayed the authorization of the withdrawal of troops by the National Congress, as well as for political reasons, as happened with the ministerial decision in the 2021 and 2022 edition, the presence of units of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.

*Images are used for illustrative purposes.-

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