Representatives of the Chilean Navy and of the Naval Forces of the Southern Command/Fourth Fleet of the United States Navy met in mid-April in Florida to review bilateral cooperation activities and naval exercises within the framework of the meeting of Annual Maritime Staff Dialogues (M.S.T.for its acronym in English).
Naval delegations from the two countries on the flight deck of the destroyer USS Jason Durham (DDG 109). Signature Naval Forces of the Southern Command/Fourth Fleet of the United States Navy
The delegations were led by Commander, Naval Forces Southern Command/Fourth Fleet, U.S. Navy, Rear Admiral Jim Aiken; and the director of Planning of the General Staff of the Chilean Navy, commodore Agustín Pájaro.
This meeting began between both institutions in 1996 when the Chilean Navy invited its American counterpart to establish an annual meeting to discuss topics of mutual interest such as opportunities for the exchange of personnel and training between both navies.
Signing of minutes of the Annual Maritime Dialogues of the General Staff. Photo Naval Forces Southern Command/US Navy Fourth Fleet
The M.S.T. They allow the strengthening of cooperative relationships and contribute to interoperability. Additionally, they serve as a forum for all maritime security cooperation activities, such as exercises Panamax and Unite. The latter, of a multinational nature, will be organized by the Chilean Navy in September of this year.
The meeting concluded aboard the destroyer USS Jason Durham (DDG 109) of the class Arleigh Burke Flight IIA where the heads of delegation signed the minutes that establish the agenda prepared jointly and which aims to increase interoperability and strengthen bilateral cooperation.
