Argentina asks to join NATO as Milei looks to enhance security, strengthen ties

ARGENTINA'S CONTROVERSIAL POPULIST PRESIDENT JAVIER MILEI WANTS HIS COUNTRY TO JOIN NATO AN EFFORT TO ENHANCE POLITICAL AND SECURITY COOPERATION.

MILEI'S GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING TO TIGHTEN RELATIONS WITH WESTERN POWERS AND ATTRACT INVESTMENT.

THE REQUEST CAME AMID TALKS BETWEEN NATO'S DEPUTY SECRETARY AND THE ARGENTINE DEFENSE MINISTER IN BRUSSELS.

THE DEPUTY DEFENSE SECRETARY WELCOMED ARGENTINA'S BID TO BECOME A GLOBAL PARTNER. 

CLAIMING THE COOPERATION COULD BE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL.

NATO ONLY HAS 32 MEMBERS BUT HAS RELATIONS WITH MORE THAN 40-NON-MEMBER COUNTRIES.

THE PARTNERSHIP NETWORK ENHANCES SECURITY OUTSIDE OF NATO TERRITORY.

BUT PARTNERS DO NOT BENEFIT FROM NATO'S CORE PRINCIPLE.

THE COMMITMENT TO COLLECTIVE DEFENSE.

NEITHER NATO NOR ARGENTINA WOULD BE OBLIGATED TO MILITARILY DEFEND EACH OTHER.

STILL, THE PARTNERSHIP REQUIRES ALL 32 NATO MEMBERS TO SIGN ON.

AND ARGENTINA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH KEY NATO ALLY BRITAIN HAS BEEN STRAINED SINCE THE FALKLANDS WAR IN THE EARLY 1980S. BRITAIN CURRENTLY CONTROLS THE ISLAND.

THE ISSUE OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE FALKLAND ISLANDS POSES A CHALLENGE.

PRESIDENT MILEI IS BALANCING DIPLOMACY WITH TERRITORIAL CLAIMS AS HE SEEKS TO BOOST TRADE WITH BRITAIN.

IF ARGENTINA WERE TO BE ACCEPTED- IT COULD USE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, SECURITY, SYSTEMS AND TRAINING OFFERED BY NATO.

IN ADDITION, MILEI HAS ADJUSTED HIS FOREIGN POLICY TO ONE OF "ALMOST UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT" FOR THE U-S.

AS HE SEEKS TO RETURN ARGENTINA TO ECONOMIC PROMINENCE AND FIX HIS NATIONAL DEBT AND OVERSPENDING.

ON THURSDAY, THE U-S ANNOUNCED IT WOULD BE GIVING ARGENTINA 40 MILLION DOLLARS IN FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING.

IT'S A MOVE NOT MADE IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS. 

THE FUNDS INTEND TO ALLOW ARGENTINA TO MODERNIZE AND EQUIP ITS MILITARY.

AND IT WILL HELP IN PART TO PAY FOR 24 AMERICAN F-16 FIGHTER JETS.