By PortalPortuario Editorial Staff
@PortalPortuario
He USS (CVN-73) “George Washington”aircraft carrier that leads the USN Carrier Strike Group (CSG) of the United States Navy, entered the Strait of Magellan and stopped for a few hours in Punta Arenas as part of its transit through Chilean territory.
This task force, complemented by two additional ships, will continue its course north to conduct joint exercises with the Chilean Navy within the framework of the initiative “Southern Seas 2024”.
The ship, next to the destroyer USS Porter (DDG-78) and the fleet tanker USS John Lenthall (T-AO-189)leads US Southcom’s Southern Seas initiative, which seeks to improve interoperability and strengthen ties with the region’s maritime forces.
This is the tenth mission to Latin America since 2007 and the third time involving the aircraft carrier, which also participated in the 2008 and 2015 versions, the latter being the previous time it transited the Strait of Magellan.
“The entry operations into our jurisdictional waters began in the early hours of Tuesday, June 4, after passing through the eastern tip of the Strait and where it was received by the FF-15 Blanco Encalada, a unit belonging to the National Squadron,” he said. the Chilean Navy.
“This escort maneuver, which will conclude in Valparaíso, was complemented by the capabilities of the Punta Delgada Harbor Master’s Office, who coordinated the boarding of pilot officers and facilitated the transit of the units, keeping the ferry crossing in Primera Angostura suspended. for a few minutes to ensure preferential passage through the Strait,” he added.
After approximately eight hours of navigation, the US Navy units arrived in the capital of the Magallanes Region and Chilean Antarctica to stay on tour at the height of the Prat Pier.
“Then, national authorities, led by the Minister of Defense, Maya Fernández; the Commander in Chief of the Navy, Admiral Juan Andrés De la Maza; and representatives of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as local authorities, approached the unit to hold a protocol meeting with the commanders of this North American task force,” said the Maritime Authority.
After the meeting, the Minister Maya Fernández He noted that “it was an opportunity to talk and exchange opinions. We had already had previous visits on two occasions. And this third instance will arrive in Valparaíso, which allows us to strengthen the relationship, given that the Strait of Magellan is strategically important and Chile has control of this area.”
“This allows us a deeper relationship, since Navy officers are piloting in the Strait and during the journey to Valparaíso, combined maneuvers will be carried out between the Navies, which will allow us to strengthen the relationship and obtain experiences that improve our capabilities,” he added. .
For his part, the Commander in Chief of the Navy, Admiral Juan Andrés De La Mazacommented that “very early today (Tuesday, June 4), the Chilean Navy, with the frigate Blanco Encalada, has received the North American flotillas that begin their movement through the Strait of Magellan en route to Valparaíso.”
“As an institution, we take advantage of these transits, since this aircraft carrier, which is changing its home port from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast, develops a navigation itinerary that gives us an opportunity to interact with them and test all our abilities. capabilities,” he added.
He Presidential delegate of the Region of Magallanes and Antarctica Chile, José Ruiz Pivcevic, indicated that “on the one hand it reinforces the importance of the navigation route, which is the Strait of Magellan, and the potential and geopolitical location that the city of Punta Arenas has. On board they showed us the various bilateral exercises that have been carried out on this journey, showing the necessary collaboration between both countries.”
“I want to greatly value and thank the Minister of Defense, Maya Fernández, for her visit, where she not only reinforces her presence and the work she did with the Southern Joint Command, but we also talked about the challenges and projects we have in the region of Magellan and Chilean Antarctica,” he added.
The aircraft carrier George Washington remained only for one night in the jurisdiction of the Third Naval Zone and set sail early on Wednesday, June 5, to continue its navigation towards Valparaíso.
“Prior to its arrival at the main port, it will carry out various exercises with units of the Chilean Navy within the framework of Southern Seas between June 11 and 15, activities that this task force has already carried out with the navies of Brazil and Argentina, and that, after its interaction with national vessels, will continue with its program in Peru, Ecuador and Colombia,” the Maritime Authority noted.
The aircraft carrier USS George Washington, commissioned on July 4, 1992, has 32 years of service. As the sixth nuclear-powered aircraft carrier of the “Nimitz” class, she is the largest in the world and conducts air, sea and land operations. On board are two Chilean officers, part of the multinational naval and air operations team for the exercises that will be deployed.
