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US PACOM Commander Hosts Chilean Minister of National Defense

17 July 2026
CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii — Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, hosted His Excellency Fernando Barros, Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Chile, during an official visit to the US PACOM headquarters at Camp H. M. Smith, July 17, 2026.

Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, right, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, and His Excellency Fernando Barros, left, Minister of National Defense of Chile, discuss an area of responsibility displayed during a visit to the US PACOM headquarters building at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, July 17, 2026.
Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, right, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, and His Excellency Fernando Barros, left, Minister of National Defense of Chile, discuss an area of responsibility displayed during a visit to the US PACOM headquarters building at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, July 17, 2026. US PACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, prevailing in conflict. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan D. McLearnon)
Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, right, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, salutes during an honors ceremony welcoming His Excellency Fernando Barros, left, Minister of National Defense of Chile, to the US PACOM headquarters building at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, July 17, 2026.
Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, right, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, salutes during an honors ceremony welcoming His Excellency Fernando Barros, left, Minister of National Defense of Chile, to the US PACOM headquarters building at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, July 17, 2026. US PACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, prevailing in conflict. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan D. McLearnon)
His Excellency Fernando Barros, Minister of National Defense of Chile, meets U.S. Pacific Command leadership while visiting the US PACOM headquarters building at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, July 17, 2026.
His Excellency Fernando Barros, Minister of National Defense of Chile, meets U.S. Pacific Command leadership while visiting the US PACOM headquarters building at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, July 17, 2026. US PACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, prevailing in conflict. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan D. McLearnon)

Minister Barros received an honors ceremony upon arrival to the headquarters, where he and Adm. Paparo stood side by side to review the honor guard as a military band performed, reflecting the respect and mutual regard underpinning the Chile-U.S. defense relationship. 

Following the ceremony, the two leaders met to discuss the longstanding defense relationship between the United States and Chile. They reaffirmed their shared commitment and discussed opportunities to deepen security cooperation, strengthen interoperability, and expand engagement between the U.S. and Chilean armed forces. 

The visit builds on a relationship that spans decades of bilateral cooperation, including combined exercises, professional military exchanges, and shared commitments to regional stability, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response. 

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