Argentine and US navies hold joint drills in the Atlantic

The Argentine and U.S. navies conducted a bilateral maritime engagement in the Atlantic Ocean from April 28 to May 1 as part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet’s Southern Seas 2026 deployment, with activities aimed at increasing interoperability.

Participating Argentine ships included Almirante Brown-class destroyers ARA La Argentina (DD 11) and ARA Sarandi (D 13); Espora-class corvettes ARA Rosales (P 42) and ARA Robinson (P 45); and Gowind-class offshore patrol vessels ARA Piedrabuena (P 52) and ARA Bartolome Cordero (P 54). U.S. Navy units included the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101) and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

Aircraft involved included an Argentine P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft, SH-3 Sea King and AS550 Fennec helicopters, and U.S. Navy MH-60S and MH-60R helicopters assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17.

“Training with allies like Argentina builds the trust required to operate together in complex environments,” said Rear Adm. Cassidy Norman, commander of Carrier Strike Group 11. “Working through realistic scenarios with our Armada de Argentina counterparts deepened our understanding of each other’s systems, sharpened our interoperability, and strengthened our ability to accomplish our many shared maritime objectives.”

The training package featured subject matter expert exchanges, communications drills, a live-fire gunnery exercise, formation maneuvering, and air defense exercises.

Nimitz also hosted senior Argentine government and military leaders, including President Javier Milei; Minister of Defense, Gen. Carlos Alberto Presti; Foreign Minister, Pablo Quirno; and Chief of Defense, Vice Adm. Marcelo Alejandro Dalle Nogare. The delegation was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Argentina, Peter Lamelas.

While aboard, the delegation met with Norman and Capt. Joseph Furco, Nimitz’s commanding officer, to discuss the Southern Seas 2026 mission and the role of maritime cooperation in the alliance between Argentina and the United States. Visitors observed flight operations and an air power demonstration from the flight deck. The stop was among planned opportunities for distinguished guests to view carrier operations during the deployment.

The engagement and visit underscored Southern Seas 2026 objectives to strengthen existing regional partnerships and encourage new relationships through the exchange of mission-focused maritime knowledge and expertise.

Southern Seas 2026 is the 11th iteration of the exercise, launched in 2007, and is designed to foster goodwill, bolster maritime partnerships to counter threats, and build the U.S. Navy’s team alongside partner nation maritime services.

During the deployment, the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is scheduled to conduct passing exercises and at-sea operations with regional maritime forces as the ships circumnavigate South America. The strike group includes Nimitz, Carrier Air Wing 17, Destroyer Squadron 9, and USS Gridley.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet serves as a maritime partner for Caribbean, Central, and South American forces, supporting regional unity and security.