Chile proposes joint naval operation to curb drug trafficking and illegal fishing in Eastern South Pacific

Chile's navy chief, Admiral Fernando Cabrera, called for coordinated joint missions in the Eastern South Pacific to counter drug smuggling, illegal fishing and other transnational threats. The proposal was presented at the XXXII Inter‑American Naval Conference in Panama, which gathered representatives from 17 nations.

Cabrera stressed the need to improve interoperability among the region's navies, protect maritime routes from piracy, safeguard marine biodiversity and enhance response capabilities for natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies. The initiative aims to strengthen regional cooperation against organized crime and the growing presence of foreign industrial fishing fleets.