Argentina and the United States reconfirmed their common strategic vision for a safer region: confronting the negative influence of China, Iran, Russia and drug trafficking, which impact the region and threaten the stability of democracy in Latin America, the network said Argentine news Infobae.
“These communist countries work together […]. When they can, they try to form partnerships and dismantle and undermine democracy and democratic institutions,” he told Infobae US Army General Laura J. Richardson, commander of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). “There are many challenges in the region in terms of transnational criminal organizations […]which 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 achieve strategic benefits in Latin America by gaining access to the region’s vast economic resources such as rare earth minerals, oil, natural gas and other wealth, as well as illicit savings,” he told Dialogue, on April 10, Andrés Martínez-Fernández, senior policy analyst for Latin America, at the North American think tank The Heritage Foundation. “The threat of losing access to Chinese investments 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.”
Therefore, the Espacio Lejano Station, located in the Argentine province of Neuquén and operated by China, based on an agreement signed in 2012, during the government of Cristina Fernández (2007-2015), continues to raise concerns regarding its military use. In mid-April, Javier Milei’s government inspected the station to ensure compliance with the contract, the Spanish news agency reported EFE.
Gen. Richardson warned that this type of space installations “could translate into global military capabilities to support tracking, surveillance and targeting of our armed forces,” reports the Argentine newspaper. La Vanguardia.
“China’s military ties in Latin America come with several conditions. An increasingly deep Chinese military presence includes military-to-military linkages and investments in dual-use economic/military infrastructure,” Martínez-Fernández emphasized. “This increases tensions or conflicts, while at the same time allowing Beijing to intimidate Latin American governments, with actions or inactions that they must [implementar]even against their own interests.”
Argentina also suffered from Iran’s infiltration of the region: 32 years have passed since the attack on the Israeli Embassy and 30 years since the attack on the Argentine-Israeli Mutual Association (AMIA), which were attributed to the terrorist group Hezbollah and which remain unpunished , reported the chain CNN.
“Unfortunately, Argentina was the victim of the two worst terrorist attacks before 9/11. No one can say that this threat has disappeared,” he told the Argentine newspaper La Nation, on March 31, Marc Stanley, US ambassador to Argentina. “Hezbollah is still present, Al Qaeda is still present, Iran is still present. In fact, a Venezuelan plane recently landed here [talvez]with former members of Al Quds [Guarda Revolucionária Islâmica]. Therefore, we are committed and in contact with Argentina and other countries in the region to exchange information and best practices with the aim of combating 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, he detailed InSightCrimein its report dated February 21, 2024.
In the face of these threats, the United States maintains its position as a reliable partner and continues to invest in developing capabilities in the region to combat this scourge. As proof of the long-standing relationship with Argentina, the US government donated 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 relief, the U.S. Embassy said.
“The bonds between our armed forces are as strong and deep as the bonds between our people,” emphasized Gen. Richardson during the delivery of the aircraft on April 3. “We are committed to working closely with Argentina so that our collaborative security efforts benefit our citizens, our countries and our hemisphere in lasting and positive ways.”
The Argentine Ministry of Defense confirmed that the aircraft will facilitate air operations and connections with Antarctica.
“Alliances must be anchored in a common vision of the world and must not submit to those who attack Western values,” said the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, during the delivery of the aircraft. “Our alliance with the United States, demonstrated throughout my first months in government, is a declaration to the world that, after decades of bombastic speeches and spurious pacts, Argentina has decided to resume the leadership role that it should never have abandoned. This new foreign policy will allow us to promote the economic prosperity of our people, 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. Resources will focus on professional and capabilities development, cyber defense and disaster preparedness, the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires said. With more than two centuries of diplomatic relations, the two nations continue to strengthen their political, security, economic and cultural ties.
