JJ offers army expertise to ‘friends’ in Latin America

In the first ever visit by an Indian Army Chief to Latin America, Gen J J Singh is on a 10-day visit to Chile and Brazil from May 6 to 16.

In the first ever visit by an Indian Army Chief to Latin America, Gen J J Singh is on a 10-day visit to Chile and Brazil from May 6 to 16. The IAF and Navy have already made headway with Latin American nations, though this will be a starting point for the Army.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee visited Chile in October last year, while former Air chief S Krishnaswamy visited the country in October 2004. Apart from bilateral cooperation, both these visits were also aimed at pitching for the indigenous ALH Dhruv helicopter to the Chilean armed forces — both Chile and Brazil are looked at as potential customers for Indian-made warships and cruise missiles as well.

‘‘General Singh’s visit to Chile and Brazil will open the doors to enhance army cooperation with these countries, especially in training for UN operations, mountain and jungle warfare, adventure activities and facilitating interaction between military think tanks,’’ an Army spokesperson said today.

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South American nations have, by and large, depended on the US and UK for military hardware.

Strategically speaking, it is actually the Navy that is to gain the most in the near-term from relations with Latin American countries, considering that access agreements would fit in with a potentially expanded vision for the Pacific, including logistics support and operational turnaround facilities.

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