The Minister of Defense, Javier Garcia commented on the relationship they have Uruguay and USA in the matter – marked by a cooperation system – and announced that they are negotiating the purchase of weapons, radars and trucks with that country; an advance marked by the arrival this week of the commander of the Southern Command, Laura Richardson.
The portfolio leader assured that there is a joint working relationship between both countries and with the government of Luis Lacalle Pou managed to deepen. With this, he commented that they achieved cooperation in the purchase of military material within the framework of a cooperation system called Foreign Military Sales (FMS)as reported to El País.
Meanwhile, García explained that the vehicles of the Armed forces Uruguayans are not in the best state. “We have trucks that are no longer at the limit, but tied with wire. We need to renew the fleet of vehicles used in the daily missions of logistic transfer of staff of the Army. We are absolutely in critical situation”, commented the leader.
Negotiations and donations
Faced with this, the minister explained that they are negotiating with USA the purchase of 60 vehicles at a differential market price that corresponds to the cooperation system in which it participates Uruguay. In that sense, the leader stressed that the negotiations will not end with this government but will continue and that is why he believes it is important to continue maintaining a good relationship since these vehicles are of vital importance.
On the other hand, García recalled that USA donated three patrol cars Marine Protector to the Navy, which Uruguay It only meant the fine-tuning before the vehicles arrived in the country. In addition, he announced that they will receive the donation of 14 vehicles Mamba armored vehicles, which have a value between 10 and 14 million dollars each. The donation, as specified by the northern country, would arrive between the second and fourth quarters of this year.
Richardson’s visit
The commander of United States Southern Command, Laura Richardson, will arrive in Uruguay today with the objective of meeting with senior government officials and prominent members of the Armed forces from the country.
The statement of the U.S. Embassy in Uruguay, released last week, states that these meetings are intended to provide Richardson “the opportunity to hear the perspectives of leaders from both countries, discuss shared goals and challenges of mutual interest, and consider opportunities to further strengthen the bilateral military ties“.
This is the military leader’s first visit to Uruguay and your visit has the objective of learning more about the Armed Forces of Uruguay and “his lasting contributions to national and international security.” On the other hand, during his visit, Richardson will visit events focused on the support of the Uruguayan Armed Forces to the world peace and the regional stability.
From the embassy, they highlighted Uruguay as a country “recognized for defending the values of democracy and the peace in South America and a strong supporter of peacekeeping operations sponsored by the UN”.
In the publication of the Embassy American stressed that both countries have mutual interest in “the disaster preparednesspeace-keeping, human rightsmaritime security, cybersecurity, space cooperation, capacity development defending, education and vocational training, and integration of women in peace missions, defending and security”.
The pressures of the United States in matters of Defense
In the middle of last year the government completed the purchase of two ocean patrol vessels (IPO) for the The national army to the Spanish shipyard Cardama, after a controversy with China where USA He pressured so that the purchase did not go to the Asian country.
The state company China Shipbuilding Trade (CSTC) He had obtained “96 points and a fraction out of a possible 100,” according to the Navy’s technical advisory commission. However, when it was leaked that it was the only company qualified to win the tender, pressure arose from the government of USA through its embassy in Uruguay.
Washington clarified that it was one thing to have a commercial relationship based on the export of raw materials and quite another to buy from China war material. He even went so far as to offer two of his own ships as an alternative to purchasing Chinese patrol vessels.
OPV Defense Vessel
Capture: @MDN_Uruguay
Based on this, at the beginning of last year, the Minister of Defense, Javier Garciadeclared the call void since all the offers received – three in total – exceeded by up to 68 million dollars the amount available for spending, which was between 100 and 120 million for the two patrols.
While USA maintaining its pressure, Defense made progress in contacts with a Norwegian shipping company to acquire two patrols that needed to be restored. The operation required an investment of US$100 million – a cost greater than that of acquiring new units – and immediately aroused criticism. Ultimately, the plan was aborted.
In mid-July of last year, after a second international call, Minister García announced that the two IPOs would be acquired for 92 million dollars per Spanish Cardama shipyarddespite a report from the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Rear Admiral Gustavo Musso, which described it as the worst company of those that were competing. It, among other aspects, has no experience building ocean patrols of these characteristics.
Source: Ambito
