Acrux X: five countries train river interoperability in Uruguay

The navies of five friendly countries participated in the Acrux X naval exercise in the river region of the Uruguayan department of Rio Negro, which aimed to increase the level of training against terrorist threats and organized crime, protection and preservation of the environment, protection of life in the aquatic environment , search and rescue operations and humanitarian aid in the event of natural disasters.

“The area where the exercise took place, because of its economic activity, is a source of resources for the world; where the common interests of different countries mostly interact,” he said Dialogue on September 18, Captain Alejandro Chucaro, Head of Public Relations of the Uruguayan Navy. Military personnel from Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina and observers from Paraguay and Bolivia participated on this occasion.

More than 500 troops from participating countries were deployed on the Uruguay River, where ships, landing craft and aircraft operated between August 21 and 25 in various actions. The Acrux exercise, held every two years since 2001, strengthens training and increases mutual trust, coordination and cooperation between participating countries.

“Common interests must be defended; to this end, regional cooperation calls on those involved in joint preparation to face the risks, anticipating and seeking interoperability and common knowledge to generate mutual trust,” said Capt. on nav. Chucaro. “Modern transnational threats and power groups challenge states through structures capable of destabilizing a region.”

Uruguayan Defense Minister Javier Garcia said in a statement that this military maneuver “calls for us to be trained in the face of possible threats. Threats that can be linked to terrorism, border insecurity, but also humanitarian evacuation.

“Increasingly and exponentially, (…) a huge part of the drugs that are transferred to Europe and Africa from the South American southern cone by sea leave through the Parana-Paraguay-Uruguay waterway,” the Spanish portal published. Defending itself. “[Esto] further appreciates these exercises in relation to the exchange, prevention and repression of drug trafficking and related crimes’.

During Acrux X, soldiers were divided into task teams made up of the various unit crews, between which exchanges were made; organization and planning; development of the incident; and involvement of land, water and air forces.

“Navy forces are trained to protect regional economic interests by planning and executing maritime traffic control exercises in navigable river areas that are essential to the foreign trade of participating countries,” said Capt. on nav. Chucaro. “Acrux X connects the Paraguay River, the Parana River, the Uruguay River and the Plata River to the ocean.”

The Uruguayan Navy provided all logistics and ground services; tug ROU Maldonado; ROU Río Negro Coast Guard and Coastal Patrol Boat; and a Turbo-Mentor Beechcraft T-34C-1 aircraft belonging to his Naval Aviation. On the part of the Argentine Navy, the multi-purpose ship ARA Ciudad de Zárate, the patrol boat ARA Río Santiago and the Marine Corps Battalion No. 3 participated.

The Brazilian Navy had 192 personnel, logistics support ships Parnaíba and Potengi River subordinated to the Command of the Mato Grosso Flotilla (ComFlotMT), an aircraft of 1.^er General Operations Helicopter Squadron West and Detachment of 3.^er Riverside Operations Battalion.

The exercise ended with a river assault demonstration. “The action involved the coordinated use of Navy, Air Force and Marine resources to attack and seize a target called an Enemy Base of Operations,” Cpl. on nav. Chucaro.