Argentina and the United States have reaffirmed their common strategic vision for a safer region: to confront the negative influence of China, Iran, Russia, and narcotrafficking that impact the region and threatens the stability of democracy in Latin America, Argentine news site Infobae reported.
“These communist countries are working together […]. When they can, they try to partner and dismantle and undermine democracy and democratic institutions,” U.S. Army General Laura J. Richardson, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), told Infobae. “There are many challenges in the region in terms of transnational criminal organizations […], they create instability and insecurity in countries, and these criminal networks take control.”
“China, Iran, and Russia leverage their economic power, including foreign direct investment and entry into their markets, to gain strategic benefits in Latin America, gaining access to the region’s vast economic resources such as rare earth minerals, oil, natural gas, and other wealth, as well as illicit economies,” Andrés Martínez-Fernández, senior policy analyst for Latin America at the U.S. think tank The Heritage Foundation, told Diálogo on April 10. “The threat of losing access to Chinese investment and markets is a very effective tool for Beijing to coerce Latin American governments into accepting deeper and more compromising political, economic, and military cooperation.”
The Espacio Lejano Station, located in the province of Neuquén, Argentina, operated by China through an agreement signed in 2012 during the Cristina Fernández administration (2007-2015), continues to cause concerns for military use. In mid-April, the government of Javier Milei inspected the station to ensure contract compliance, Spanish news agency EFE reported.
Gen. Richardson warned that such space facilities “could translate into global military capabilities to support tracking, surveillance, and targeting of our armed forces,” Argentine daily La Vanguardia reported.
“China’s military ties in Latin America come with several conditions. A deepening Chinese military presence, including military-to-military liaisons and investments in dual-use economic/military infrastructure,” Martínez-Fernández said. “This increases tensions or conflicts, while allowing Beijing to intimidate Latin American governments, with actions or inactions that they must [implement] even against their own interests.”
Argentina has also suffered from Iran’s infiltration in the region: 32 years have passed since the attack on the Israeli Embassy and 30 years since the bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA), events attributed to the terrorist group Hezbollah and which remain unpunished, CNN reported.
“Unfortunately, Argentina was the victim of the two worst terrorist attacks before September 11. No one can say that threat is gone,” Marc Stanley, U.S. ambassador to Argentina, told Argentine daily La Nación on March 31. “Hezbollah is still present, Al Qaeda is still present, Iran is still present. In fact, a Venezuelan plane recently landed here [perhaps], with former members of the Quds Force [Islamic Revolutionary Guards]. So, we are engaged and in contact with Argentina and other countries in the region, to exchange information and best practices to combat terrorism.”
United by a vision
Organized crime is perpetuating instability and violence in the region. At least 117,500 people were murdered in the hemisphere in 2023, InSight Crime indicated in its February 21, 2024 report.
In the face of these threats, the United States maintains its position as a reliable partner and continues to invest in the development of the region’s capabilities to combat insecurity. As a token of its longstanding relationship with Argentina, the United States donated in early April a C-130H TC-60 Hercules aircraft to the Argentine Air Force. The donation, valued at $30 million, is part of a U.S. assistance package for humanitarian and national security aid, the U.S. Embassy indicated.
“The ties between our armed forces are as strong and deep-rooted as the ties between our people,” Gen. Richardson said during the aircraft donation. “We are committed to working closely with Argentina so that our collaborative security efforts will benefit our citizens, our countries, and our hemisphere in a lasting and positive way.”
Argentina’s Ministry of Defense said that the aircraft will facilitate air operations and connection to Antarctica.
“Alliances have to be anchored in a common vision of the world and must not submit to those who attack the values of the West,” said President Milei during the aircraft delivery. “Our alliance with the United States, demonstrated throughout my first months in office, is a statement to the world that, after decades of bombastic speeches and spurious pacts, Argentina has decided to resume the leading role it should never have abandoned. This new foreign policy will allow us to promote the economic prosperity of our peoples, an indispensable requirement to guarantee the sovereignty of our homeland.”
During fiscal year 2024, the United States will allocate more than $625 million for security cooperation with Argentina. The resources will be focused on professional and capacity building, cyber defense, and disaster preparedness, the U.S Embassy in Buenos Aires indicated. With more than two centuries of diplomatic relations, both nations are set on continuing to strengthen their political, security, economic, and cultural ties.