The United States has donated 14 MAMBA Mark 7 Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) to the Uruguayan Army, with thirteen delivered and a fourteenth scheduled for arrival in September. The vehicles, valued at over $13 million, were funded through the U.S. Department of State’s Global Peacekeeping Operations Initiative.
Ambassador Heide Fulton spoke at the delivery ceremony, highlighting the collaborative nature of the donation. “We are here to celebrate the delivery of thirteen MAMBA Mark 7 Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) to the Uruguayan Army, with a fourteenth to follow in September. Valued at over $13M, the APCs were funded through the United States Department of State’s Global Peacekeeping Operations Initiative. They were produced and delivered through the combined efforts of the U.S. Southern Command, the Department of State, the Uruguayan Ministry of Defense and Uruguayan Army. The contract includes a robust, two-year spare parts package and four ‘train the trainer’ courses which have already begun.
While we admire this impressive hardware, what we really celebrate are the hardworking people, our shared values, and the strong relationship between our countries that make this donation possible.”
Uruguay is recognized as one of the leading contributors per capita to United Nations peacekeeping missions worldwide. More than one thousand Uruguayans currently serve on U.N. missions abroad.
Fulton added: “Uruguay proudly stands as the second largest per-capita contributor to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in the world. There are currently over one thousand brave Uruguayan men and women serving on U.N. missions overseas to support and defend our shared values of peace and global security. Each of these service members are deployed voluntarily. The United States and Uruguay recognize our responsibility to provide the best equipment available to protect these brave men and women, to enable them to accomplish their mission, and to bring them home safely.
These APCs will allow Uruguay to provide a Mechanized Infantry Company Quick Reaction Force to the United Nations for a future Peacekeeping mission. This capability will permit our Uruguayan partners to continue their long history of contributing to international peace and security. It also demonstrates the U.S. Southern Command’s commitment to work closely with our partners, to understand their security assistance needs, and to expeditiously support those needs.
We thank the Uruguayan Army and Ministry of Defense for their unwavering support to global peace and for the opportunity to partner with them on this momentous achievement.”