US Navy enhancing partnership with Ecuador, Peru, Chile

US Navy ships deployed in support of the U Southern Command’s Enduring Promise initiative are scheduled to undertake interoperability and partnership exercises in Ecuador, Peru and Chile, the navy has said.

Ships taking part in the initiative are amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) and guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108).

Somerset has approximately 300 US marines and sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Peru that will conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training with Peruvian naval forces.

Wayne E. Meyer has carried out an interoperability and information sharing exercise with the Ecuadorian Navy and US Coast Guard to increase capacity in countering illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. After this exercise, Wayne E. Meyer is meeting up with Somerset to participate in celebrations of the Chilean Navy’s 200th anniversary and EXPONAVAL 2018.

EXPONAVAL 2018 is the 11th Chilean International Naval & Maritime Exhibition and Congress for Latin America. It will take place Dec. 4-7 at Base Aeronaval Concon, Valparaiso in Chile. Sponsored by the Chilean Ministry of Defense and the Chilean navy, it is the major naval exhibition for Latin America on the Pacific coast. The four-day event comprises an exhibition, conference, senior staff delegations and visiting warships and will focus exclusively on naval defense and maritime security issues and equipment procurement. Eighty-two nations from across the globe have been invited to attend the event.