Argentina has requested to join the National Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as President Javier Milei seeks to strengthen ties with the West and enhance the country’s security. The proposal was made during a discussion between Argentine Defense Minister Luis Petri and NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana on regional security issues in Brussels.
Geoana expressed approval for Argentina’s plea to join NATO as a member nation stating “Argentina plays an important role in Latin America. Closer political and practical cooperation could benefit us both.” Milei believes that joining NATO would provide Argentina with access to advanced technology security measures and training that were previously unavailable to the country.
Argentina submitted a request to become a global partner of NATO pic.twitter.com/XP8dCO3YHG
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Milei’s goal is to reverse years of trade protectionist policies massive spending and mounting foreign debt that have sent Argentina’s economy into disarray. In his first four months in office the Argentinian president has already made significant changes to the country’s foreign policy.
As part of the efforts to strengthen relations with the West the U.S. government recently announced $40 million in foreign military aid for Argentina. These funds are intended to support Argentina’s military build-up and equipment acquisition including the purchase of 24 American F-16 fighter jets from Denmark.
Defense Minister Petri praised the acquisition of the warplanes as “the most important military purchase since Argentina’s return to Democracy” in 1983. However Milei’s political rivals have criticized the massive price tag associated with the fighter planes.
For Argentina to join NATO all 32 countries in the alliance must agree to the proposal. Tense relations between Argentina and England a key NATO member over the disputed Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic may pose a challenge since their conflict in 1982.
Currently Colombia is the only Latin American country in NATO while other global partners include Afghanistan Australia the Republic of Korea Mongolia New Zealand and Pakistan. However being a “global partner” does not guarantee that a country’s NATO allies will defend it from an attack.
