General Rodolfo Daniel Pereyra Martínez leads Uruguay’s Defense Staff (ESMADE) since April 2022. Among his objectives is to strengthen the capabilities of the armed forces with the acquisition of materials to better solve shared challenges and confront threats. Diálogo had the opportunity to speak with Gen. Pereyra about advances in the forces’ modernization and control of land and maritime borders, among other topics.
Diálogo: You’ve been leading the Defense Staff (ESMADE) for more than two years. In retrospect, what have been your greatest challenges and successes?
General Rodolfo Daniel Pereyra Martínez, chief of the Defense Staff of Uruguay: My greatest challenge has been to instill in the Armed Forces the need to evolve toward a joint employment doctrine, and that the material necessary to successfully confront present and future threats arises from joint, rational, and prioritized planning based on capabilities.
What has been achieved so far? Creating critical mass from the joint academic modules for senior officers and chiefs, organized by the Defense Staff, whose receptiveness and interest are extraordinary.
Diálogo: The Uruguayan Air Force has added six Super Tucano aircraft from the Brazilian company Embraer to its fleet to patrol and protect the country’s borders. What other advances have the Uruguayan Armed Forces made to protect the country’s borders?
Gen. Pereyra: In line with the previous question, the Defense Staff has worked in the last two years in the acquisition of materials to strengthen the capabilities of the three forces for border surveillance and patrolling. We have improved mobility capabilities by increasing the number of utility vehicles; we have enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities with the purchase of UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles]; and we have completed the process of acquiring the materials needed to strengthen intercommunication among the forces as a basis for interoperability and, at the same time, to exercise command and control of joint operations through real-time situational awareness of the theater of operations.
Diálogo: What else can you tell us about the modernization progress of the Armed Forces?
Gen. Pereyra: Today, in addition to the aforementioned Super Tucano aircraft, we should soon see the arrival in Uruguay of a patrol boat donated by the Republic of Korea and a scientific research vessel, both destined for the National Navy, to which also, once the contract is closed and the manufacturing times are fulfilled, two OPV vessels will be assigned.
Diálogo: In July, the Uruguayan Army received 13 Mamba Mk7 armored vehicles from the United States to use in peacekeeping missions in conflict zones. How will these vehicles support the work of the Armed Forces in United Nations peacekeeping missions?
Gen. Pereyra: The Mamba MK7 vehicles donated by the United States are part of the Rapid Deployment Company that the National Army has formed to act, at the request of the United Nations, in humanitarian crisis situations in any part of the world. The excellent performance that characterizes the Mamba MK7, together with its anti-mine armor, makes it the most reliable and safe vehicle to fulfill the mission.
Diálogo: Drug shipments to Europe, especially cocaine through Uruguay have increased. How has the fight against drug trafficking been progressing for the Uruguayan Armed Forces?
Gen. Pereyra: In Uruguay, that responsibility falls to the security forces, in particular to the National Navy acting through the National Naval Prefecture, since the latter is responsible for carrying out the Maritime Police tasks, preventing, repressing, and investigating, in its capacity as an auxiliary of justice, crimes, misdemeanors, and violations that are committed or affect its jurisdiction. So, it is not a task specifically assigned to the Armed Forces.
Diálogo: What progress has been made in the fight against illegal fishing by the Chinese fishing fleet that plunders the oceans of Latin America? What kind of coordination does the Uruguayan Armed Forces carry out with its partner countries to combat this problem?
Gen. Pereyra: The answer coincides with the previous one: It’s a task of the Maritime Police; to which I would add that the Chinese fishing fleet is not the only one that violates our Exclusive Economic Zone.
Diálogo: In June, experts from U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and the Connecticut National Guard traveled to Uruguay to give presentations on cybersecurity. How are the Uruguayan Armed Forces collaborating with SOUTHCOM to coordinate efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and cyber defense?
Gen. Pereyra: Every year, cyber defense technicians from SOUTHCOM and the Connecticut National Guard meet in Uruguay with technicians from the Uruguayan Armed Forces to exchange knowledge on the subject, and to propose challenges, projects, and experiences related to the handling of incidents. This year, we had the particularity of including civilian technicians from critical state infrastructures in the activities, whose purpose was to raise awareness of the fact that cybersecurity is an issue for everyone and that we must all protect ourselves and help each other.
Diálogo: What other types of exchanges have the Uruguayan Armed Forces conducted with the Connecticut National Guard, their peer under the State Partnership program, so far this year? What’s coming up next?
Gen. Pereyra: Last April, we were invited by the Connecticut National Guard to actively participate in one of the largest cyber defense exercises carried out in the United States, Cyber Yankee 2024. It was the first time that foreign armed forces were integrated into it, Uruguay was one of the four, the experience was wonderful. On the other hand, we will continue to participate in the leadership courses and the wounded-care program, among others.
Diálogo: In February, you met with U.S. Army General Laura J. Richardson, then SOUTHCOM commander, to discuss continued cooperation and explore ways to strengthen the long-standing defense partnership between Uruguay and the United States. What were some of the outcomes of this meeting? What kind of training, exchanges, and exercises do you envision with SOUTHCOM?
Gen. Pereyra: Cyber defense is a topic of common interest of both parties. There, we find an opportunity to strengthen our ties of friendship and cooperation, in the same sense, we see it in contribution to peace operations, boosting the participation of our forces. A sign of that support was the donation of the Mamba MK7. Regarding exercises, we continue to conduct joint/combined Special Operations training, exercises that in the eyes of the civilian population generate some skepticism, but which virtues, when these capabilities are used in support of citizens in emergency situations or disasters, authorities understand.
