As part of the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries, the meeting took place at the facilities of the ARC Bolivar Naval Base.
In the framework of the international cooperation agreement conducted by the Colombian Navy and the United States Navy, Vice Admiral Ricardo Hurtado Chacon, Chief of Naval Operations staff accompanied by Rear Admiral Juan Ricardo Rozo Obregón, Commander of the Naval Force of the Caribbean, received the geostrategic visit of Rear Admiral Donald D. Gabrielson, commander of the fourth naval fleet of the United States and other military and civilian authorities of the United States Naval mission, in order to strengthen the bonds of partnership and strengthen the operational strategies that lead to the frontal fight against the factors of instability in the Caribbean region.
On the first day of the visit, an initial reception was held by the Naval High Command, where the Strategic and operational plans of the Naval Institution in the Maritime, River and land environments of the Colombian Caribbean were announced.
Through a tour by the facilities, the foreign delegation was able to learn first-hand the Resources of the units of the Naval Force of the Caribbean, including Units of Surface as the Missile Frigate ARC Independiente and the Ship OPV ARC 20 de Julio; they also visited the submarine ARC Pijao, in the facilities of the Command of coast Guard in the Caribbean as well as the museum of submarines formerly used by the drug trafficking groups, and they also knew the differential resources exhibition by the Naval special operations commandoes Group in the Caribbean.
In the same way, the visited the facilities of the Cadets Naval School Almirante Padilla, where the rear admiral Javier Alfonso Jaimes Pinilla, Director of the Alma Mater of the Officers of the Navy, accompanied him and the military authorities of both countries, during the interaction with the simulator of the Center of Research, Development and Innovation for Maritime Activities (CIDIAM), that counts on the Resources of the Full Mission 360 degrees Bridge and virtual reality VBS3 (Virtual Battlespace 3), tools that strengthens the training and research processes that contribute to the nation's Naval and maritime power.
Finally the visit led to the identification of common points in the fight against drug trafficking and other manifestations of transnational organized crime at sea, mainly, where the military authorities of the United States highlighted the great effort and contribution of the Colombian Naval Institution to the stability and security of the region.
The Colombian Navy will continue to maintain the high level of readiness of its units in the service of security and defense, while reaffirming its commitment to international cooperation and the combined fight against all crimes at sea and common threats in the Americas.
Source: press-Navy of Colombia
