After traversing the Strait of Magellan and arriving at the coast of Punta Arenas, the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, along with its escort group, is preparing to soon begin combined naval exercises with the Chilean Navy. The U.S. Navy ship was received and escorted a few days ago by the frigate Blanco Encalada on its way to Chilean ports, concluding these tasks when it docks in Valparaíso.
The presence of the USS George Washington in Chilean territorial waters is part of the Southern Seas 2024 deployment within the area of operations of the United States Southern Command. Having departed from Naval Station Norfolk last April, the ship, along with the destroyer USS Porter and the logistics ship USS John Lenthall (T-AO-189), recently completed combined exercises with the navies of Argentina and Brazil.
The visit of the U.S. aircraft carrier has included a visit from Chile’s Minister of Defense, Maya Fernández, along with naval authorities. She stated: “It was an opportunity to converse and exchange opinions. We have had previous visits on two occasions, and this third instance arriving in Valparaíso allows us to strengthen the relationship. The Strait of Magellan is strategically important, and Chile controls this area. This deepens our relationship as Navy officers pilot through the Strait, and combined maneuvers between the navies during the journey to Valparaíso will strengthen the relationship and improve our capabilities.”
Meanwhile, the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral Juan Andrés De La Maza, remarked after the initial protocol meetings: “Since early today, the Chilean Navy, with the frigate Blanco Encalada, has received the U.S. flotillas starting their transit through the Strait of Magellan en route to Valparaíso. As an institution, we take advantage of these transits, as this aircraft carrier, changing its home port from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast, provides us an opportunity to interact and test all our capabilities.”
According to a report from the Chilean Navy on June 5, the USS George Washington has already set sail for Valparaíso. It is expected that between June 11 and 15, combined activities with the Chilean Navy will take place, before continuing its voyage to Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. This is part of its transit towards San Diego, with Japan as the final stop, where it will relieve the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.
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