The President Javier Milei is in talks with the British government to lift restrictions on purchasing advanced weapons that have plagued Argentina ever since Falklands Warsaid the London newspaper The Telegraph.
The media refers to Milei’s statements in which he confirms this information. “There are no world powers without military power. No country counts in the international context if it cannot defend its borders,” he emphasized.
Current British government policy is that the UK should “refuse licenses for the export and trade of goods deemed to enhance Argentina’s military capability.”
According to The Telegraph, the British government denies that there have been any concrete negotiations on easing these restrictions, but cites sources confirming bilateral defense discussions. The newspaper, in turn, assumes that Milei will travel to London in 2026.
The plan, which Milei revealed to The Telegraph, was to visit in April or May. He said he would like to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer and opposition leaders such as nationalist Nigel Farage.
Regarding the Malvinas, Milei said Argentina would have to win them back through diplomatic channels: “I think the best way to demonstrate Argentina’s will is to show that we also have a mature commercial relationship.”
Donald Trump’s administration has played an important role in the attempted rapprochement. “There is a bloc made up of China and its satellites. There is another one made up of Russia and its satellites. And there is another, which is the United States, which is trying to ensure that its sphere of influence – its satellite bloc – covers the entire American continent,” Milei told The Telegraph.
Milei did not rule out a full military alliance with Britain as part of reviving relations. “I would not give up a territory under any circumstances, but it is obvious that in the end people will vote with their feet. And if the living conditions that guarantee them a high standard of living are replicated, it is very likely that they will be more willing to recognize this territory as Argentina,” Milei added.
Sources from Downing Street (home of the British government) denied to the London newspaper that the negotiations would include the status of the islands: “Sovereignty is non-negotiable and we will defend their right to self-determination. In 2013, the islanders held a referendum on their future and an overwhelming majority chose to remain part of the United Kingdom.”
Milei’s plan to re-equip the armed forces received a relevant chapter last week with the arrival of the first F-16 Fighting Falcon purchased by Argentina from the Royal Danish Air Force, modernized to the MLU (Mid-Life Upgrade) standard. These are ships from the 80s that the Danes replaced with new models a long time ago.
According to official documentation Argentina committed to spending $301 milliondistributed in five annual paymentsIn addition to the aircraft, this also includes eight additional engines, spare parts for the first five years of operation, ground support systems and four flight simulators.
The transaction received US government approval, which was necessary because the model was developed by Lockheed Martin and is part of the North American military export system. With this purchase what the executive branch defined as the most significant military integration since 1983After retiring the Mirage, the Air Force is regaining its supersonic capability and is on the way to rebuilding a stable operational squadron.
The Telegraph also cites complaints from British veterans who survived the 1982 conflict who claim that allowing Argentina to modernize its army would expose the islands to a new invasion.
Lord West, the former First Sea Lord whose ship HMS Ardent sank during the war, said: “You’re always a little worried that if they still want to conquer the Falkland Islands they’re going to get smart new weapons.”
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