Argentina's Milei Shifts Defense Cooperation Focus from China to US

In the past ten years, China has significantly increased its security presence in Argentina. However, recent developments suggest that President Javier Milei is looking to reorient defense cooperation towards the United States.

China's Growing Influence in Argentina

In 2012, an agreement between officials from Argentina’s Neuquen Province and Beijing led to the construction of a deep space tracking station near the Chilean border, a move that drew attention from Washington. The 50-year contract allows the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to operate freely on Argentinian soil. The facility, known as Espacio Lejano, set the stage for a Chinese ground tracking facility in Rio Gallegos, on the southeastern coastal tip of Argentina, which was formally announced in 2021. Since the Espacio Lejano contract was signed, analysts and U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed concern over China’s expanding collaboration with Argentina in matters of security and surveillance.

Argentina's Shift Towards the US

President Milei, who took office on Dec. 10, 2023, replacing progressive President Alberto Fernandez, has signaled his intent to move away from socialist policies in favor of a more libertarian direction. He has enacted major economic reforms and a downsizing of government in the nearly seven months he has been in office. Recent developments suggest that the Milei administration is prioritizing defense relations with the United States over China, according to Leland Lazarus, the associate director for national security at Florida International University’s Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy.

Strengthening US-Argentina Relations

President Milei has visited the U.S. multiple times in his first six months in office, meeting with Secretary Blinken and visiting the White House. In April, U.S. Southern Command Gen. Laura Richardson visited Argentina, donating a Hercules C-130H transport aircraft to the Argentinian Air Force and touring a naval facility in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego.

China's Declining Influence in Argentina

Under the previous administration, China had been given preferential treatment. However, in June 2023, a project to build a “multi-purpose” port facility near the Strait of Magellan, approved by Tierra del Fuego Gov. Gustavo Melella, was met with legislative backlash. There are no public records showing the project has moved forward since.

Argentina's Defense Cooperation with Western Partners

In April, Argentina’s Minister of Defense, Luis Petri, signed a historic purchase agreement for 24 F-16 fighter jets from Denmark, marking a shift away from the previous administration's consideration of purchasing China–Pakistan-made JF-17 fighter jets.

Conclusion

The shift in Argentina's defense cooperation from China to the US is significant, considering the CCP's substantial investment in Argentina’s defense sector. This change in direction under President Milei's administration could have far-reaching implications for the geopolitical landscape in South America. What are your thoughts on this shift in Argentina's defense cooperation? Do you think it will have a significant impact on the region's geopolitics? Share this article with your friends and let us know your thoughts. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.