NEWS | Chilean Navy Continues to Climb Ranks in Rimpac Exercise

Along with the participation of the frigate “Almirante Condell,” the Chilean Navy continues to take on new responsibilities in the command post of Rimpac 2024, the largest naval and maritime exercise in the world, held off the coast of Hawaii.

Demonstrating the confidence the organization has in the professional preparation of the local navy, for the first time in the history of the Rim of the Pacific exercise (Rimpac), established in 1971, a Chilean officer, Commodore Alberto Guerrero, will serve as deputy commander of the Combined Task Force (CTF).

This position is under the command line of the commander and the deputy commander of the CTF. Although it is not a native English-speaking navy, in 2018, the current Vice Admiral Pablo Neimann had already assumed leadership of the Maritime Component, a role that carries the weight of most of the planning, conduct of operations, and resources participating in the exercise.

The Rimpac exercise, created by the United States, has steadily grown, both in participating countries and in training areas, with its main objective being to promote regional stability in the Pacific Ocean. Today, it is the primary joint and combined naval event at the international level, where the most modern training resources are employed.

Since the security of the largest ocean in the world cannot be guaranteed by just one navy, international cooperation from all coastal states seeking to keep the Pacific, and consequently the rest of the oceans, open to freedom of navigation and the free exchange of goods and services is required. Thus, Rimpac was designed to be executed every two years, allowing its participants to train in a combined manner, achieving minimum standards to operate as a multinational force if required.

The 29th iteration of the exercise, which will take place from June 26 to August 2 in Pearl Harbor and its surroundings, will bring together 29 nations, 40 surface ships, 3 submarines, 14 ground forces, over 150 aircraft, and more than 25,000 sailors. The participating countries will be: Germany, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Korea, Denmark, Ecuador, the United States, the Philippines, France, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Peru, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Tonga.

The Chilean Navy has participated continuously in Rimpac since 1996, except for 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This time, the frigate “Almirante Condell,” one of the three Type 23 Duke-class frigates acquired by the Chilean Navy from the Royal Navy and commanded by Captain Carlos Ruiz, will represent the institution and will be directed by the commander of the U.S. 3rd Fleet, who will act as the CTF commander.

The motto of Rimpac 2024 is “Partners: Integrated and Prepared,” and the activities will focus on employing the multinational coalition to ensure freedom of navigation in the waters of the Indo-Pacific.

Local participation in this exercise occurs within the framework of the close cooperation between the Chilean Navy and the United States Navy, which this year includes the upcoming visit of the aircraft carrier “USS George Washington” and the traditional Unitas operation along the coasts of Chile.

Ignacio Mardones
Head of Institutional Relations at AthenaLab
June 4, 2024

Photo: Chilean Navy