on Monday inaugurated the Binational Forum "100 years after the arrival of the first United States Naval Mission in Peru."
Held in Callao region, the ceremony was attended by Education Department Director at Peru's Navy Vice-Admiral Luis Polar and Naval Academy Director Rear-Admiral Gerardo Indacochea.
The forum is part of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the U.S. Naval Mission to direct and reorganize the Peruvian Navy, which took place on September 6, 1920.
"It is an honor and pride to celebrate together the 100th anniversary of the first United States Naval Mission to Peru,"
U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Denison Offutt expressed on the occasion.
"The extraordinary and close relationship between our two navies has outstandingly stood the test of time. They are responsible for essential tasks such as protecting the coasts and trade. These functions further strengthen the ties between our two countries," he added.
Among the great successes of this relationship are the educational system at the Naval Academy of Peru. From then on, Peruvian naval officers adopted many of the traditions from the U.S. Navy Academy in Annapolis.
"The one-hundred-year legacy of the United States Naval Mission is, without any doubt, a source of pride for both of our countries," Offutt highlighted.
The 1920 United States Naval Mission was led by Navy Captain Frank B. Freyer. Its members dressed in Peruvian naval uniforms, translated manuals and publications, as well as shared the U.S. naval ethics.
Since then, the ties of friendship and naval integration have been strengthened on multiple occasions and —most recently— during the visit of the BAP Union to four ports in the United States on the occasion of its foreign instruction voyage in 2019.
During the last 16 years, both nations have carried out the
Diesel-Electric Submarine Initiative in conjunction with Peru's submarine force. It must be noted that Peruvian submarines are featured in tactical training operations alongside U.S. task forces.