U.S. Southern Command Admiral Craig S. Faller visited Argentina April 7-9 during a regional trip. He visited Buenos Aires and Ushuaia to make donations worth $3.5 million on behalf of the United States Department of Defense to aid Argentina in our joint effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. While in Buenos Aires, Faller met with Argentina’s Minister of Defense, Agustín Rossi, and with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Juan Martín Paleo.
“The United States has worked closely with Argentina to combat COVID-19, and will continue to do so until the pandemic is over,” Admiral Faller said while visiting Argentina. “These donations and commitments build on a long tradition. Over the past two decades, the United States has provided more than $140 billion in global health assistance. The virus has already cost millions of lives around the world. We must continue working together to prevent further tragedy and we are proud to have a strong partner in Argentina.”
In Buenos Aires, Admiral Faller participated in a donation ceremony of three field hospitals that will be strategically positioned and deployed where most needed.
As part of the Humanitarian Assistance Program of the U.S. Department of Defense, Admiral Faller also donated search and rescue equipment to the Civil Defense in Ushuaia city, which will increase its ability to reach more people in need of help.
Additional donations for Argentina are expected to arrive in May, including personal protective equipment, screening tools and other medical supplies.
Since the COVID-19 crisis began, SOUTHCOM has worked closely with its Argentine partners. The U.S. has delivered 15 COVID-related humanitarian assistance donations to support Argentina’s ongoing response to the pandemic, delivering much-needed protective equipment, medical supplies, and monitoring and screening tools. Since 2017, the United States has provided more than $8.6M in humanitarian aid to Argentina, including over $4 million for COVID-related needs.
