By Robert Farley
What’s happening on the other side of the Pacific?
Despite enjoying a long Pacific coastline, the Latin American navies have historically projected power into the Pacific only with great reluctance. While the Brazilian Navy actively participated in both World Wars on the Allied side, its operations were largely limited to the Atlantic.
The naval commitments of the eastern Pacific states vary considerably. The Mexican Navy, for example, punches dramatically under its weight. Mexican GDP is higher, PPP adjusted, than Malaysia, South Korea, or Thailand, but Mexican defense spending is remarkably low. The Mexican Navy has only two World War II vintage destroyers and six Cold War vintage frigates, with no submarines and minimal naval air.
The situation gets better in South America; Ecuador operates two frigates and two submarines, Colombia four of each, and Peru six of each. Most of the submarines are Type 209 or similar diesel-electrics, the frigates 1970s-era European transfers.
The Chilean Navy has long held pride of place among the Latin American navies on the Pacific coast. As early as the late 19th century, Chile determined to embark on competition with Brazil and Argentina for naval supremacy in South America. Shortly prior to World War I, Chile contracted for the construction of a pair of modern battleships in the United Kingdom. At the outbreak of war both were seized by the Royal Navy, becoming the super-dreadnought HMS Canada and (eventually) the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle. HMS Canada, after serving at Jutland, was eventually returned to Chile to become Almirante Latorre.
Read the full story at The Diplomat