After the official presentation of the fleet of F-16 aircraft in Córdoba, the Minister of Defense stated, Luis Petri, He took responsibility for the new purchase and took aim at those who claim the government bought “junk” from Denmark. “They understand absolutely nothing. You have to ask what they did.” attacked the official who will resign his post to take his seat next week Chamber of Deputies.
“Those who say they are trash, firstly, cannot demonstrate any relevant purchases to ensure the defense, sovereignty and protection of Argentina’s resources. What they did for many years was a trip around the world in search of a defense system, but they did not make any purchases,” said Petri, alluding to the Kirchnerist governments.
And ironically: “Defensive tour, I tell youIn doing so, the minister once again expressed his differences with the Peronist governments, which he accused of encouraging “abuse” and “persecution” against the armed forces. “They tore their clothes and talked about the sovereignty of the Cotillion.” expressed in dialogue with Radio Mitre.
“But with actions like this purchase of aircraft, sovereignty is exercised, allowing total control over Argentine territory,” he explained after co-chairing an event with the organization in Córdoba this morning president Javier Milei where they were received the first six F-16 supersonic aircraft who have arrived in the country. The arrival of 18 aircraft adds to the fleet of 24 acquired by the government.
Throughout the interview, Petri highlighted Javier Milei’s management, to whom he acknowledged a demand from the FF. AA. and the army and identified the purchase of the F-16 fighter jets as evidence of this.
The minister then explained the scope of the new acquisition. They are supersonic and can fly 2500 km per hour. “A flight from Tandil to Buenos Aires takes 12 minutes,” he noted. But he also referred to the role they will play in defense and air control. “It is transcendental to guarantee the sovereignty of our heavens” he explained.
“There are two important functions: the first is deterrence, because you are saying to the world: ‘Be careful that we have something to defend ourselves with. It is important that no country or parastatal group decides to attack the Argentine Republic,'” he warned.
“The other is control and surveillance. You have complete control of your airspace with aircraft ready to deter any kind of aggression,” he added.
Petri’s statements are consistent with the speech that Milei gave this morning together with the senior staff of his cabinet in the Río Cuarto material area. After witnessing another low-level flight (the first had previously taken place in the city of Buenos Aires), the president called for equipping the armed forces and purchasing these fighter aircraft.
In his speech, Milei also questioned the “Kirchnerism” policy of leaving the military “without equipment.” Petri later returned to what Milei had mentioned earlier and denounced a “dismantling” of the armed forces. during previous governments.
“There was a biased view that limited them to 70 and persecuted them because they had a name,” said Petri, who celebrated the government’s current support for the sector “under a very specific Milei slogan.”
Finally, Petri referred to the controversy surrounding the appointment of Carlos Alberto Presti, current lieutenant general of the army and the first soldier to take over the cabinet without leaving the FF. AA. since the return of democracy.
He then spoke of an ideological dispute over who should be his successor. “That’s why I told you the other day in the Chamber of Deputies that those who criticize Lieutenant General Carlos Presti should go to the psychologist. Because he is particularly criticized by sectors linked to Kirchnerism and claiming to be Peronists,” he noted.
And in an arrow aimed at this sector, he concluded: “When it was the Kirchnerists’ turn to govern, they did not take this into account and put the Montoneros, whom Perón had thrown off, at the head of the defense.”