Argentina
The Navy confirmed exercises with U.S. Marines in Tierra del Fuego
The activity is taking place in Ushuaia alongside Marine Infantry Battalion No. 4. The force and the U.S. Embassy presented it as a routine exchange within the framework of bilateral cooperation.
The presence of U.S. Marines in Tierra del Fuego sparked political questions and coverage in local media, in a context marked by the national government’s agenda on the South Atlantic, the Malvinas and the Integrated Naval Base in Ushuaia.
According to the Argentine Navy in Gaceta Marinera, about eight members of the U.S. Marine Corps are taking part together with Marine Infantry Battalion No. 4 in an exchange of experts in cold-weather areas. According to that communication, the training began on Tuesday, September 8, and will continue until Tuesday, September 22.
The force said the exercises include theoretical and practical activities on low-mountain and extreme-cold techniques, with the use of crampons, snowshoes, rope teams, alpine skiing and self-arrest maneuvers. Tasks related to survival and mobility in that type of environment are also being carried out.
Both Clarín and Perfil noted that the Navy framed this activity within a bilateral cooperation scheme in force since 2017. The force described it as a small delegation aimed at exchanging knowledge and strengthening professional ties.
In response to a query from Clarín, the U.S. Embassy in Argentina said these are reciprocal visits carried out by invitation and with the host country’s consent for routine defense cooperation activities, including training, exchanges between experts, conferences and port visits.
The criticism included a statement by the mayor of Río Grande, Martín Pérez, who demanded clarification about the presence of foreign military personnel and asked whether it had congressional approval. Clarín added that the Agenda Malvinas website had previously reported the presence of groups of personnel linked to the Marine Corps and Southern Command training in valleys, mountains and glaciers.
The training coincides with the reactivation of the Integrated Naval Base project in Ushuaia. According to Clarín and Perfil, last week Defense Minister Carlos Presti and Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno toured the site. Perfil added that during that visit there was also a meeting with Governor Gustavo Melella.
On the legal side, Perfil recalled that Law 25,880 regulates the procedure for authorizing the entry of foreign troops, and noted that the Navy did not announce a specific decree for this activity in its statement, presenting it as an exchange of experts.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not do its own reporting on this event.
