Russia has offered to send an oceanographic vessel off the coast of Argentina to search for San Juan, a 44-member navy submarine whose fate is unknown, the Argentine Foreign Ministry said in a statement. held by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Argentine counterpart Mauricio Macri.
The Argentine president thanked his Russian counterpart for the aid, while Putin stressed to Macri that he would order a Russian oceanographic ship equipped with advanced technological means that could prove to be important in a business of this kind.
According to the announcement of the Argentine Foreign Minister, the two presidents agreed that the Ministers of Defense of their governments will discuss more specifically the implementation of Russia's offer to help.
With the Russian contribution, the number of states participating in the search and rescue operation will reach thirteen. According to the Argentine Foreign Ministry, Germany, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Spain, the United States, France, Norway, Peru, the United Kingdom and Uruguay have already provided assistance.
The Kremlin press service reported earlier that Putin had offered to help Macri and encouraged him. The two leaders also discussed other issues of bilateral co-operation, according to the same source.