The government of Javier Milei is planning a bilateral combined military exercise in Tierra del Fuego, between marines from the Argentine Navy and marines from the United States.
The proposal is not new, it originates from the agreements made during the government of Alberto Fernández in June 2023 and has as its central objective, training in cold and low mountain areas. in the Vinciguerra glacier ; one of the most important areas of tourist activity near the city of Ushuaia.
The information was made official through the matter referred by the Executive Branch to the National Congress in August - and which already has half sanction in the House of Representatives -; with the purpose of obtaining parliamentary authorization for the entry of foreign military troops to Argentina and the exit of its own military units abroad, and which is currently being processed in the Senate, still without approval. All this beyond the fact that the government of Javier Milei has authorized the exit of Argentine forces by decree, violating the provisions of the National Constitution.
In the extensive document, and between pages 74 to 78, the central objectives of the planned activity are detailed, consisting of: " in increasing infantry troop skills in cold climate and low mountain techniques and tactics through knowledge of mountain equipment and technical material and the development of battalion-level training in amphibious techniques and tactics in cold areas with a coast close to mountainous regions in land operations in winter mountains and in contingencies in the event of natural disasters and anthropogenic events in this geography."
And as specified, it is planned to be carried out in the “maritime, coastal and land space of the south of the large island of Tierra del Fuego, preferably in Ushuaia” since, as it is assured, “it offers a very convenient geographic area with altitudes exceeding one thousand meters, peaks with constant snow and a climate with frequent variations”, where there are “glaciers, passes linked to the sea towards inland areas and, due to the forestation and slopes, among other characteristics, it offers a high level of personal demand typical of this type of scenario”.
“The activities to be developed - details the application - include: bouldering, small rock climbing, glacier crossing, ice climbing and mixed climbing in waterfalls, making snow caves and igloos, positioning observation posts in snowy terrain, avalanche rescue practices, alpine and cross-country skiing.”
The tentative dates for these combined bilateral exercises, which will last approximately five days, are set in the report as “the third and fourth quarters of 2024, and the second and third quarters of 2025,” although they do not rule out that they could be held at another time.
To this end, the Argentine Navy will arrive with a marine infantry company with a maximum of 132 personnel, four Mercedes Benz 1725 type trucks, three Marrua type vehicles, a commando group with a maximum of 10 personnel, and a logistics group with a maximum of 6 personnel.
Meanwhile, the United States Navy will land with a section of the United States Marine Corps group, with a maximum of 20 personnel.
“U.S. Marine Corps personnel will be deployed with individual equipment and equipment specific to mountain and ice operations,” the official document specifies.
Finally, it indicates that the operation will have an estimated cost of 10,331,548 pesos , the source of financing for which will be provided by the Argentine Navy.
"The purpose of the exercise is to exchange training techniques and tactics in cold and mountainous climates, with the aim of improving the operational employment and readiness of marine infantry units, with the innovative doctrinal and technical contribution of units of the United States Navy," he concludes.
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION
