Southern Vanguard 2026: Argentina, Chile, Peru and US Armies Train Together in Peru for the First Time
The armies of Argentina, Chile, Peru, and the United States have come together on Peruvian soil for the first time as part of the joint exercise “Southern Vanguard 2026.” Running from September 6 through September 18, 2026, the exercise is being conducted in dense jungle terrain around Tarapoto, in Peru’s Amazonian San Martín region.
At a Glance
- The exercise brings together the armies of Argentina, Chile, Peru, and the United States.
- This is the first time the Southern Vanguard series has been hosted in Peru.
- It is being held in Tarapoto/San Martín, in the Peruvian Amazon, from September 6-18, 2026.
- Peru’s Jungle School (Escuela de Selva) organizes the exercise, with sponsorship from the US Army’s Western Hemisphere command structure (USAWHC).
- Chile’s contribution — personnel from the 1st Armored Brigade “Coraceros” — was flown in aboard a Chilean Air Force C-130 Hercules.
- The Chilean troops were received by Peru’s 5th Amazon Protection Jungle Brigade.
Background
The Southern Vanguard exercise series is an annual military cooperation program designed to strengthen interoperability among Latin American armies and build combined-response capacity in complex operational environments, jungle terrain in particular. Holding this year’s edition in Peru for the first time — with Chile, a previous host, among the participants — reflects the series’ geographic rotation logic.
At the core of the exercise sits Peru’s Jungle School, which specializes in jungle-warfare training for the Peruvian Army, working alongside the US regional military cooperation structure. Chile’s 1st Armored Brigade “Coraceros” personnel were transported to the area aboard a Chilean Air Force C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and received by Peru’s 5th Amazon Protection Jungle Brigade, which is based in the country’s jungle regions. The program covers a broad slate of activities, including patrols, survival testing, river crossings, and amphibious capabilities — testing the participating forces’ mobility and operational adaptation under conditions of limited infrastructure, harsh climate, and dense vegetation.
The exercise’s stated objective is to “strengthen interoperability, readiness, and combined response capability in complex operational environments such as the jungle.” Beyond the tactical level, the goal is to accumulate shared experience in logistics coordination and command-and-control alignment among the participating militaries.
Regional Impact
The recent uptick in multilateral military exercises across Latin America reflects both trust-building among regional armies and continued US efforts to reinforce regional security partnerships. Hosting the exercise in Peru for the first time is also significant for showcasing the country’s military capacity in the Amazon region to its international partners. Given Türkiye’s rapidly expanding defense-industry ties with Latin America in recent years, the logistics, training, and platform needs signaled by exercises of this kind are worth tracking as an indicator for Turkish defense firms weighing regional market strategy.
Short FAQ
What is Southern Vanguard? It is an annual, multinational military exercise series aimed at improving interoperability among Latin American armies operating in jungle and other demanding terrain.
Why does this year’s edition matter? It is the first time the exercise has been held on Peruvian soil, directly in Amazonian jungle terrain.
Which countries are participating? The armies of Argentina, Chile, Peru, and the United States.
Sources
- Infodefensa, “El Ejército de Chile se despliega a Perú en un C-130 de la FACh para participar en Southern Vanguard 2026”
- Radio Santa Fe, “EE.UU realiza ejercicios militares con tres países de Latinoamérica”
- Diálogo Américas (as cited by regional press)
