The Secretary of State expressed his good wishes to the naval servants who will soon be deployed in the most important multinational maritime exercise in the world, highlighting the professionalism of the Chilean Navy and its strategic role in the Pacific.
From the Molo de Abrigo de Valparaíso, the crew of the frigate FF-05 “Almirante Cochrane” formed on the flight deck of the ship to receive the Minister of Defense, Fernando Barros, who came to bid farewell to the sailors who will sail to Hawaii, United States, to participate in the international exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026.
The authority was received by the Commander in Chief of the Navy, Admiral Fernando Cabrera; the Commander of Naval Operations, Vice Admiral Daniel Muñoz; the Commander of the National Squadron, Rear Admiral Jorge Castillo; and the Commander of the ship, Captain Federico Cavada.
The day began with a presentation on the main activities contemplated for this edition of RIMPAC. Subsequently, the minister toured the naval unit together with the delegation of the Ministry of Defense, where they were able to learn about the operational capabilities of the ship and the work carried out by its different departments.
At the end of the visit, the Secretary of State addressed the crew to wish them success in the mission and highlight the relevance of Chile’s permanent participation in this type of international scenario.
“There is a professional level of excellence here. It is a great experience for the crew, for the officers and for the entire Chilean Navy to be part of the recognition that is granted to us worldwide and in the South Pacific. The Pacific knows that Chile has an elite Navy, which contributes to the security, stability and tranquility of all Chileans,” said the minister.
For his part, Vice Admiral Daniel Muñoz highlighted the operational and professional value that RIMPAC represents for the Institution: “This is a tremendous experience. Being able to interact with other marinas and test ourselves at sea for an extended period of time is essential. We constantly prepare ourselves for this type of challenge and living them gives us valuable professional maturity. Each deployment of this nature strengthens our crews at all levels and reaffirms our capabilities as a modern, operational naval force.”