News of the new maritime and naval defense deals followed the organizers' report the double event in the port city attracted representatives of 34 navies and more than 150 exhibitors.

Chile attracted global interest in the event after it announced plans to beef up and modernize its maritime fleet and naval forces.

Chile's warm welcome to British and other Western naval visitors contrasted with tensions between Britain and Argentina over Buenos Aires' sovereignty claim on the British-ruled Falkland Islands and Argentine moves to block shipping trade to the territories.

Chilean organizers welcomed the British navy destroyer HMS Gloucester to the show, in contrast to Uruguay's decision to deny the warship any courtesies during its current tour of duty in the South Atlantic.

In August, the Gloucester became directly involved with South Atlantic's anti-narcotics operations when it intercepted a yacht, Tortuga, as it tried to smuggle more than $6 million cocaine.

Gloucester is deployed in the Falklands waters through next July, despite some Latin American opposition to its presence. At a recent summit of the Union of South American nations, Argentina won regional support for its Falklands claim and Uruguay's decision to turn the warship away in September was also in solidarity with Argentina.

Despite those undercurrents of tension, Chilean maritime officials saw an opportunity in inviting maritime and naval shoppers to its high-profile events.

The U.S. Navy's ultra-modern HSV-2 catamaran-design USS Swift and the Mexican Navy's ARM Baja California, an interceptor patrol vessel with an all-weather helicopter operations capability, were other key exhibits at the show.

Adm. Edmundo Gonzalez, head of the Chilean navy and a co-organizer, hailed the gathering of maritime and naval officials.

"This fair has been very successful and each year it further consolidates," he said. "The secret has been the fusion of Exponaval, which refers to naval defense issues, with transport that deals with maritime and ports issues," he explained.

Gonzalez said the event has become the largest and pre-eminent gathering of its kind.

"Chile has become the leader in maritime and naval defense exhibits in Latin America, contributing to develop our maritime commitment as a nation," he said. "It is also an opportunity to show the technological and building advances in global naval defense."

Chilean Defense Minister Jaime Ravinet de la Fuente said the event was "an important platform for the promotion of closer regional and international defense ties and for the growth of our strategic industries."

"Exponaval has proven to be a stimulus for the exchange with the maritime and naval Industry and at the same time allows the policy makers, official delegations, businessmen, professional visitors and military personnel to be exposed to the latest advances in technologies," he said.

The accompanying seminars provided regional naval commanders and procurement officials with opportunities to consider options for modernization of naval power, officials said.

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