Argentina's Milei classifies latest arms purchase as military secret by decree
In short
Argentine President Javier Milei signed a decree on 19 October classifying the plan for the country's latest weapons purchase as a military secret. Contracts, weapon type, cost, supplier and receiving department are to be kept "absolutely secret". CLS and Jiemian carried a CCTV News report that also cited the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on submarine financing.
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Argentine President Javier Milei signed a decree on 19 October declaring secrecy over the country's latest weapons purchase, CLS and Jiemian reported, in text credited to CCTV News. The decree lists the purchase plan as a military secret. The contracts, weapon type, cost, supplier and receiving department are to be kept "absolutely secret". [ 1 , 2 ]
The reports say Argentina is carrying out its largest military reform in nearly a decade. On 17 October, at an event in Buenos Aires, Marcelo Alejandro Dalle Nogare (马塞洛·亚历杭德罗·达勒·诺加雷), chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that Germany and France will provide about $3.355 billion in joint financing for the Argentine navy to buy 3 submarines. The reports do not say whether the decree concerns this purchase. [ 1 , 2 ]
Citing Argentine media, the reports add that the government allocated about $445 million from December 2023 to August last year to buy and update military equipment. [ 1 , 2 ]
Jiemian added that relations between Argentina and Britain have recently become tense over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas, and that the Argentine government warned neighbouring Chile not to cooperate with Britain on the dispute. It said the two countries went to war over the islands in April 1982, that the war ended in a British victory, that Argentina has not dropped its claim and that Britain refuses to negotiate on sovereignty. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The decree places the details of the purchase under secrecy, according to the reports. The outlets describe it as part of Argentina's largest military reform in nearly a decade, and Jiemian adds that relations with Britain over the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands have recently grown tense.
Key facts
- Argentine President Milei signed a decree on 19 October declaring secrecy over the latest weapons purchase. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The decree lists the purchase plan as a military secret; the contracts and the weapon type, cost, supplier and receiving department are to be "absolutely secret". [ 1 , 2 ]
- Argentina is carrying out its largest military reform in nearly a decade. [ 1 , 2 ]
- On 17 October in Buenos Aires, Marcelo Alejandro Dalle Nogare (马塞洛·亚历杭德罗·达勒·诺加雷), chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that Germany and France will provide about $3.355 billion in joint financing for the navy to buy 3 submarines. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Argentine media count about $445 million allocated by the government from December 2023 to August last year to buy and update military equipment. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Nothing is confirmed by two independent outlets yet.
Still unclear
- Which purchase the decree covers. The reports describe it only as the "latest" arms purchase and do not say whether it is the submarine deal.
- Milei signed a decree on 19 October classifying the latest arms purchase plan as a military secret. CLS and Jiemian carry the same text credited to CCTV News; Yicai's available text is only a headline.