MilTech: Can you give specific examples of the kind of operations you are conducting, like exercises, training, military assistance? What is happening here at FIDAE? BC: In participating in FIDAE, over 130 airmen are here and we have the F-22 demo as well, which will exhibit a fantastic aerial demonstration – we have a B-52 fly over, and we’ve got two C-130s from the Air National Guard in Texas and Nevada. One of them specifically shows the new capability that they have been able to modernise their aircraft with. So, FIDAE is kind of centrepiece for our participation here this year, in this area. And also, through SICOFAA, as I mentioned, we are participating in the cooperation series of exercises. We just completed one in Mendoza, Argentina. Cooperation VIII, it’s virtual. We are really proud about our ability to partner with Argentina in that SICOFAA exercise earlier this year. Actually, last summer we participated with a number of partners, Canada included, with Brazil and Colombia in Rio Negro, conducting a tsunami scenario exercise called Ángel de Los Andes [Cooperación VII], the largest SAR exercise in Latin America. That was a great cooperative effort, with multiple countries represented there. I think Chile will participate in Global Sentinel, which is a space exercise in the States, in July. They participated in the Mobility Guardian exercise in the past. We are always welcoming our partners to participate in our military exercises, and seeking how can we participate in regional exercises and partner nation-led exercises down here. So, we can continue to interoperate better on a common home ground. MilTech: The West at the moment is looking to Ukraine and what is happening there. Are there any lessons learned already for you, and can they be transferred to this region? BC: I won’t comment on ongoing operations in Europe, but I can say, as I mentioned earlier, that the bedrock of our relationships are shared values of democracy and freedom and human rights and rule of law and national sovereignty. And I think what we are seeing come on the world stage is an assault on a lot of these values, one that undermines our national interests. So, I will leave it to that. We hope that those kinds of influence don’t transfer to the western hemisphere. We are connected with our partners to ensure it doesn’t. MilTech: Why is partnership with the US so attractive for regional nations? BC: One word: trust! I mentioned we love the fact that Chile, among others, is our trusted partner in this part of the world. I work very hard to build trust and ensure that we maintain it. A lot of the focus is not so much on the capability that you can see demonstrated across this ramp – everything – but really about maintaining abilities, supply chain and safety – in flight and in stability of systems. When we partner with a nation, whether it is through foreign military sales, in subject matter expertise or global training teams that come down here, I think what we want to demonstrate is that you can trust us. We’ve got a long history of being the trusted partner in this part of the world. MilTech: Any burning issue we haven’t covered? BC: I just want to thank you for highlighting FIDAE. I think I recognized your global audience and I just would say that FIDAE, being one of the top five trade shows in the world, really demonstrates Chile’s commitment to being a strong partner for many of our regional air forces – if not globally. The United States Air Force specifically is very proud of the long history here we are maintaining. be able to exchange information, data specifically, between platforms, whether it is aircraft or maritime assets, space, which is a growing area in this part of the world, and land forces. A lot of the capabilities we already have out there, but what makes them better is when you are networking together in an affordable way, so that we can exchange that and have situational awareness as to where the threats are. MilTech: You already mentioned cooperation. Who are your main allies in the region, and what capabilities can contribute? BC: We look at countries like Chile, for example, as our trusted partner. We just look at the capability that is kind of demonstrated here, not only from what the FACh [Fuerza Aérea de Chile - Chilean Air Force] can bring, but just organising the FIDAE kind of signals their commitment as a strong partner in South America, that we are very proud of. We have been here 20+ years coming to FIDAE and I am very proud to represent the United States Air Force as well the US South Command here. We have strong partnerships with just about every Air Force and military force across this region – with a few notable exceptions, which I’m sure you are aware of, but I would say we are very proud of building relationships with as many partners as we can. We have demonstrated in the United States that we are very interested in partnering on a common set of shared values – democracy and freedom, human rights, rule of law, sovereignty, and a growing concern about climate and what is happening in this part of the world. And what we need to do together to confront climate change and the conditions that exist, specifically how it impacts the people of our country, and we are seeing it has been complicated by the pandemic. But I think the measures we are putting together to address climate conditions will really pay off in the future. Interview conducted by André Forkert in Santiago, Chile. Interview MT 3/2022 · 81 USAF F-22 Raptors gave an impressive aerial demonstration during FIDAE 2022. (Photos via author)
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