Brasília (DF) – Between July 30 and August 4, the Brazilian and Argentine Armies will conduct Operation Arandu, an exercise between the two forces with the objective of consolidating military cooperation between both countries and strengthening the bonds of unity, cooperation, and friendship between the armies of the two nations. With the participation of 300 soldiers from the Brazilian Army and 322 from the Argentine Army, the operation will take place at the General Ávalos Training Camp in Monte Caseros, Argentina.
The exercise includes activities on the ground that will be carried out jointly by both forces, such as paratroop launches and attacks, armored vehicle deployment, airmobile attack, and other troop mobilizations. The operation will also include the use of aircraft and armored vehicles from both countries. From the Brazilian Army, military personnel from the Army General Staff, the Land Operations Command, the Southern Military Command, the Army Social Communication Center, the 2nd Mechanized Cavalry Brigade, the 12th Light Infantry Brigade (Aeromobile), the Paratrooper Infantry Brigade, the Army Aviation Command, and the Special Operations Command will participate.
Stages
The execution of the Arandu military exercise cycle was established at the XIV Bilateral Conference in 2020. In 2022, simulations were held in Argentina to train the staffs of the troops of both countries. In April 2023, a Final Coordination Meeting was conducted in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. In June 2023, the troops and materials that will be employed in the operation underwent a face-to-face inspection.
Operation in 2020
The previous cycle of the operation was carried out in the 2018-2020 triennium. Held in the cities of Santa Maria and Rosario do Sul, the activities allowed Brazilian and Argentine service members to act in an integrated manner, conducting training; using armored vehicles; aeromobile, aeroterrestrial, and special operations; and taking advantage of success and joining actions, in a conventional combat tactical framework. Among the activities were watercourse transposition, which ensures troop mobility in the face of water obstacles, and the use of Astros rockets. The last activity of the previous cycle was held in November 2020 in Rosário do Sul.