Photo By Michael Wimbish | SANTIAGO, Chile (June 30, 2016) -- U.S. Navy Adm. Kurt Tidd, commander of U.S....... read more read more
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By Jose Ruiz, U.S. Southern Command Public Affairs
SANTIAGO, Chile – U.S. Navy Adm. Kurt W. Tidd completed his first visit as commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) to South America’s Southern Cone region June 30 after a two-day visit to Santiago, Chile.
Tidd’s stay in Santiago was the final leg of his trip to the region, which also included visits to Argentina and Uruguay, where he met with U.S. embassy and host-nation leaders for talks on military cooperation with the region’s armed forces, and a dialogue on the interests, goals and concerns the U.S. shares with those countries.
Specific areas of defense cooperation Tidd discussed with Southern Cone leaders included support for peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance missions, disaster preparedness, and capacity-building exercises and engagements.
As he has during prior initial visits to partner nations as SOUTHCOM commander, Tidd listened closely to the ideas and perspectives of his hosts and shared his thoughts on ways to further strengthen U.S. military collaboration and friendly ties with their armed forces.
The Admiral’s first stop was Argentina June 27-29, where he met with U.S. Ambassador Noah B. Mamet and other members of the ambassador’s diplomatic team in Buenos Aires.
Meetings with U.S. embassy foreign-service personnel and military staff familiarizes SOUTHCOM leaders with how the embassies’ support U.S. relations with their host countries. The meetings also afford command leaders an opportunity to provide input on how SOUTHCOM can contribute to the embassies’ important missions.
While in Buenos Aires, Tidd also met with Argentina’s Defense Minister, Julio Cesar Martinez, with the Argentine Joint Staff, and with officers at the 601 Engineering Group, who offered the admiral a tour of their facilities.
Before arriving in Santiago, Tidd made a brief stop in Montevideo, Uruguay, June 29 for similar meetings with U.S. Chargé D’Affairs Brad Freden and the U.S. Embassy Uruguay, as well as with Gen. Nelson Pintos, Chief of Uruguay’s Defense Joint Staff, and other Uruguayan civilian and military defense leaders.
The U.S. Embassy Chile was also the Admiral’s first stop after arriving in Chile’s capital. There, he met with Deputy Chief of Mission Dale Eppler and other embassy officials.
On his final day in the region, Tidd visited Chile’s Ministry of Defense, where he met with the country’s Defense Minister, Jose Gomez; Chief of the Chilean Joint Staff, Air Force Gen. Arturo Merino; and other Chilean military and civilian defense leaders.
| Date Taken: | 06.30.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.30.2016 17:57 |
| Story ID: | 202881 |
| Location: | CL |
| Web Views: | 127 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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