As part of its journey with its final destination being Japan, and as part of Southern Seas 2024, the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) of the United States Navy (US Navy) is conducting a series of combined activities both operationally and educationally. One of the latter involves embarking personnel from the Navies of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru as part of the Embarked International Staff Program (EISP).
Currently, the USS George Washington aircraft carrier is already in Brazilian waters to carry out a series of combined activities with assets and personnel of the Brazilian Navy. Prior to its stopover, it conducted a series of exercises in which its main embarked air assets participated.
Regarding the Embarked International Staff Program, its purpose is to promote “multinational maritime partnerships and develop leaders through firsthand experience. More than 20 officers from nations operating in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, have joined the crew of the George Washington for the Southern Seas 2024 deployment.“
It should be noted that, “During transit, officers from Uruguay and the United Kingdom will join them. While on board, the officers will circumnavigate the South American continent with the George Washington.”
The importance of these activities has been emphasized by the United States Navy, as the “program marks the first time international officers have joined the crew of a U.S. ship on such a scale outside the scope of NATO, and aims to solidify SOUTHCOM’s relationship with our neighbors in the southwestern hemisphere over the coming years.”
Lastly, looking ahead to its upcoming arrival in Argentine waters, the Washington aircraft carrier will train with Argentine naval units in the last days of May, in combined operations within the framework of a new PASSEX exercise. It is expected that the Argentine Navy will deploy several of its naval units, as well as helicopters and reconnaissance aircraft. Although not officially confirmed, the exercises could involve at least one MEKO 360 destroyer, one MEKO 140 corvette, and one OPV87/90 ocean patrol vessel.
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