Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin and Uruguayan Minister of National Defense Jorge Menendez inked a letter of intent for the establishment of a working group on military and technical cooperation and signing several agreements on training of the Uruguayan troops, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The Uruguayan army still operates US-made M24 Chaffee light tanks dating back to World War 2 (Picture source: Dialogo Americas)

"Uruguay is an important and reliable Russian partner in Latin America. We are linked for over 150 years by relations of friendship and mutual trust which create a solid basis for interaction between the defense ministries," Fomin was quoted as saying in Montevideo. Fomin said the joint letter had been signed within the framework of the current intergovernmental agreement on defense cooperation. "The statement declares readiness of the defense departments of both countries for cooperation to maintain peace and security, resolve international conflicts and strengthen bilateral ties," he said.

According to him, the parties expressed their intention to "create a working group on military and technical cooperation to coordinate collaboration in the area of arms and military equipment supplies in compliance with Russian and Uruguayan legislation." In addition, the document provides for continuation of consultations on coordination of the Russian-Uruguayan intergovernmental agreement on intellectual property protection.

"Work will continue to sign an agreement on training Uruguayan soldiers in military schools of the Russian Defense Ministry, along with an agreement on sending Russian military experts to Uruguay for training and education of the National Armed Forces," Fomin stated. He arrived in Montevideo at Menendez’s invitation following the agreements reached at the 7th Moscow Conference on International Security in April 2018. Fomin visited several military units, including the National School for Peacekeeping Operations.