美国海军扩建凸显对拉美的海上力量投射【RUSI】

COMMENTARYUS Naval Build-Up Highlights Sea PowerProjection in Latin AmericaDr Carlos Solar30 September 20258 Minute ReadBrazil,Argentina,Colombia,Chile and Peru are preparingtheir fleets to secure resources and expand influence in theevent of rivalries spilling into their maritime domains.When news broke earlier this year that the UK government was in talks withBrazilian counterparts to sell HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark,two assaultships that had not been to sea since 2023 and 2017,respectively,and due tobe scrapped as part of widespread defence cuts,the signals pointed at alarger exchange of weapons systems between both countries.Brazil has a recent track record of buying and refurbishing British vesselssuch as the NAM Atlntico,formerly the UK Royal Navy platform HMSOcean,which lead also to a four year contract with Babcock InternationalGroup to deliver maintenance and systems support.No surprise caused then that on board HMS Mersey during the recent DSEIconference,Brazilian representatives signed off the purchase of the HMSBulwark.The vessel will be used for cargo and personnel transport,essentialduring humanitarian emergencies as part,chiefly,of the protection of theBlue Amazon,Bra