Argentina approves spending of US$301 million to purchase fighter jets

The Argentine government approved the disbursement of US$301.2 million (R$1.5 billion) for the purchase of 24 F-16 aircraft from Denmark, which will be paid in five installments, according to information published in the Official Gazette this Monday- fair (29).

According to an administrative decision by the Argentine Ministry of Defense, expenditures were authorized for the acquisition of the F-16 Fighting Falcon Weapon System, which includes 16 single-seat aircraft, eight dual-seat aircraft, components and services.

The Minister of Defense, Luis Petri, and his Danish counterpart, Troels Lund Poulsen, signed the purchase of supersonic fighters at the Danish air base of Skrydstrup on the last day16.

The United States provided Argentina with a US$40 million (R$) security assistance grant through a Foreign Military Financing (FMF) line to support the modernization of Argentina’s defense for the first time since 2003.

Interest in joining NATO

Argentina has been an important non-NATO ally since 1998, and on April 18, Petri presented the letter of intent in Brussels to begin the process of joining the Atlantic Alliance.

Since Javier Milei’s arrival as president on December 10 last year, Argentina has changed its foreign policy towards the USA and Israel, countries that the president considers to be “lighthouses” of the West.

The sale of fighter jets from Denmark to Argentina was negotiated in close coordination with the Washington government, which gave approval for the transaction of fighter jets manufactured in the USA. Poulsen recalled, during the signing ceremony, that Denmark should replace its fighter fleet with new F-35 models. (With EFE Agency)