US Navy heads South

U.S. Navy ships train with Western Hemisphere partners

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Hendricks

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) – In support of U.S. Southern Command’s (USSOUTHCOM) Enduring Promise Initiative, the USS Somerset (LPD 25) and the USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) will conduct interoperability and partnership exercises in Ecuador, Peru and Chile.

Somerset has approximately 300 U.S. 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 will conduct an interoperability and information sharing exercise with the Ecuadorian Navy to increase capacity in countering illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. After the exercise is complete, the Wayne E. Meyer will navigate to Chile with the 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 December 4-7, 2018 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.

The Enduring Promise initiative reaffirms U.S. Southern Command’s longstanding commitment to the nations of the Western Hemisphere with a series of operations, activities and events to increase partner nation capacity and build interoperability. Southern Command’s engagement in the region reflects the United States’ enduring promise of friendship, partnership and solidarity with the Americas. We are united in our shared responsibility as defenders of the Inter‐American values of human rights, freedom, respect for the rule of law and commitment to peace.

Source: dvidshub.net