Admiral Faller’s visit signals interest by the United States in continuing to partner with Uruguay
PRESS RELEASE
April 3, 2021
Admiral Craig S. Faller, Commander of U.S. Southern Command, will visit Uruguay on April 6-7, 2021. This will be the latest in a series of high-level visits from U.S. officials, highlighting the strong partnership between Uruguay and the United States. Our military-to-military engagement includes professional education and technical training programs, assistance in response to the pandemic and natural disasters, collaboration on peacekeeping operations, and measures to combat illegal fishing, all supporting the U.S. Embassy’s top bilateral priorities in Uruguay.
Admiral Faller will meet with Uruguayan military leaders and civilian government officials to discuss the long-standing bilateral defense ties between the United States and Uruguay, and the common challenges facing the Western Hemisphere – our shared neighborhood. His agenda includes meetings with senior officials from the Ministry of Defense and Uruguay’s Armed Forces, a roundtable discussion with members of the military who have received training in the United States, including Uruguayan women leaders who have made important contributions to the defense sector and peacekeeping operations.
In addition, the Admiral and the SOUTHCOM delegation will visit military facilities to see items donated to the government through SOUTHCOM’s Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP) to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. To date, SOUTHCOM has committed approximately USD 4.8 million in pandemic-related assistance to Uruguay for facilities big and small across more than eight cities in Uruguay. These donations include personal protective equipment (PPE), medical supplies, ICU beds, screening and monitoring equipment, and three field hospitals. One field hospital has already been deployed to the department of Rivera to assist with the government’s pandemic response in that area.
Admiral Faller will also hold a discussion about the U.S. government’s ongoing support for Uruguay’s UN peacekeeping operations, which has brought international recognition to Uruguay for the professionalism of its personnel in overseas missions. Since 2008, the United States and Uruguay have worked together to implement more than USD 50 million in peacekeeping programs funded by the U.S. government, further contributing to Uruguay’s status as a regional and worldwide leader in this sector.
Due to the COVID pandemic, the United States and Uruguay worked closely together to ensure meetings and events are cautious and in accordance with all local health protocols.
