READOUT: Pacific Fleet commander’s travel to Peru, March 19-21, 2025

25 March 2025

From U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander U.S. Pacific Fleet, traveled to Peru, March 19-21, 2025 to affirm the close and enduring relationship between Peru and the United States. As Pacific nations, the countries share a common vision for peace and security in the region and partnership in the maritime domain.

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Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center left, Adm. Luis Polar, commander-in- chief, Peruvian Navy, center, and members of their staffs pose for a photo at the Peruvian Navy headquarters in Lima, Peru, March 21, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

Koehler met with senior Peruvian and U.S. officials to demonstrate the importance of our bilateral defense relationship, exchange views on regional security challenges, and increase our cooperation and integration between the two navies to strengthen deterrence and interoperability. The two navies routinely conduct bilateral and multilateral exercises together, including RIMPAC, DESI, UNITAS, Southern Seas, Komodo, and Kakadu.

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with Adm. Luis Polar, commander-in-chief, Peruvian Navy, at the Peruvian Navy headquarters in Lima, Peru, March 21, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with Vice Adm. Javier Bravo de Rueda, commander of pacific operations, Peruvian Navy, at the Pacific Operations Command in Lima, Peru, March 21, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

From left to right: Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Vice Adm. Bravo de Rueda, commander of Pacific operations, Peruvian Navy, and Rear Adm. Juan Carlos Zuniga, commander of aviation operationsPeruvian Navy, pose for a photo in front of a Peruvian Navy T-34C-1 Turbo in Lima, Peru, March 20, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with Rear Adm. Harry Chiarella, commander of Coast Guard operations, Peruvian Navy, at the Peruvian Coast Guard’s Operational Headquarters in Lima, Peru, March 20, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with Rear Adm. Mario Alor, deputy general manager of Servicios Industriales de la Marina (SIMA) shipyard, Peruvian Navy, at the SIMA shipyard in Lima, Peru, March 21, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with Rear Admiral Salomon Moran, director of naval medicine, Peruvian Navy, during a visit to the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) SOUTH in Lima, Peru, March 20, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with the U.S. Ambassador to Peru Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath at the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru, March 20, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Peru)

In Lima, Koehler met with:

Adm. Luis Polar, commander-in-chief of the Navy
Vice Adm. Bravo de Rueda, commander of Pacific operations
Rear Adm. Juan Carlos Zuniga, commander of aviation operations
Rear Adm. Harry Chiarella, commander of Coast Guard operations
Rear Adm. Mario Alor, deputy general manager of SIMA Shipyard
Rear Admiral Luis Leon, superintendent of Peru Naval Academy
Rear Admiral Salomon Moran, director of naval medicine
Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath, U.S. Ambassador to Peru

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, salutes the honor guard during his arrival to the Peruvian Coast Guard’s Operational Headquarters in Lima, Peru, March 20, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center, receives an operations brief at the Peruvian Coast Guard’s Operational Headquarters in Lima, Peru, March 20, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center left, Rear Adm. Harry Chiarella, commander of Coast Guard operations, Peruvian Navy, center right, and members of their respective staffs pose for a photo at the Peruvian Coast Guard’s Operational Headquarters in Lima, Peru, March 20, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with Rear Adm. Harry Chiarella, commander of Coast Guard operations, Peruvian Navy, at the Peruvian Coast Guard’s Operational Headquarters in Lima, Peru, March 20, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

Capt. Carlos Diaz, chief of staff of Coast Guard Operations Command, Peruvian Navy, center, briefs Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center right, and members of his staff on current operations at the Peruvian Coast Guard’s Operational Headquarters in Lima, Peru, March 20, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center, renders a salute to the sideboys during a visit to U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) SOUTH in Lima, Peru, March 20, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, greets Cmdr. Brian Pike, executive officer of U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) SOUTH, during a visit to Lima, Peru, March 20, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center, poses for a photo with U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) SOUTH staff during a tour in Lima, Peru, March 20, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy)

Dr. Gissella Vasquez, acting department head for U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) SOUTH entomology department, right, briefs Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center, on operations at U.S. NAMRU SOUTH in Lima, Peru, March 20, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center left, Rear Adm. Mario Alor, deputy general manager of Servicios Industriales de la Marina (SIMA) shipyard, Peruvian Navy, center right, and members of their staffs pose for a photo at the SIMA shipyard in Lima, Peru, March 21, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center right, Vice Adm. Javier Bravo de Rueda, commander of pacific operations, Peruvian Navy, center left, and members of their staffs pose for a photo at the Pacific Operations Command in Lima, Peru, March 21, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

At Callao Naval Base, Koehler visited the Peruvian Coast Guard Operational Headquarters, the Maritime Information Fusion Centre for Latin America, and U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) SOUTH. He also toured Marine Industrial Services (SIMA) shipyard and Type 209 Peruvian submarine BAP Chipana (SS 34) and spoke with the crew of Type 209 Peruvian submarine BAP Pisagua (SS 33).

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center left, meets with leadership of the Type 209 Peruvian submarine BAP Chipana (SS 34) during a tour of the submarine at Callao Naval Base in Callao, Peru, March 21, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center, speaks to the crew of the Type 209 Peruvian submarine BAP Pisagua (SS 33) during a visit to Callao Naval Base in Callao, Peru, March 21, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

Koehler extended appreciation to Peru for its commitment to the Diesel Electric Submarine Initiative (DESI) program. He also expressed gratitude for the navy’s critical oiler support in the Eastern Pacific for the U.S. Navy’s Third Fleet. The Peruvian oiler BAP Tacna (ARL 158) has been deployed for a second time to Third Fleet since January 2025 as a critical force multiplier.

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, speaks to midshipmen at the Peruvian Naval Academy during a visit to Lima, Peru, March 21, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, second from right, speaks to midshipmen at the Peruvian Naval Academy during a visit to Lima, Peru, March 21, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, tenth from left, Vice Adm. Javier Bravo de Rueda, commander of pacific operations, Peruvian Navy, tenth from right, members of their staffs, and midshipmen pose for a photo at the Peruvian Naval Academy in Lima, Peru, March 21, 2025. The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Peruvian Navy)

Koehler then visited the Naval Academy, where he spoke with midshipmen and cadets about leadership, professionalism of the sea services, and future challenges and shared concerns.

The visit to Peru underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside our allies and partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.