In a recent episode, the National Government itself, through its newly created Official Response Office, confirmed that there has been no progress in the necessary acquisition of new submarines from France to equip the Argentine Navy, even contradicting the statements issued at the end of 2025 by the same President of the Nation, Javier Milei.
To date, it is no secret that one of the projects and ambitions of the Ministry of Defense and the Argentine Navy is the recovery of the submarine force, which, since the loss in 2017 of the submarine ARA San Juan, has had no operational units. Only the Submarine Force Command, based at Mar del Plata Naval Base, has the ARA Salta, which is not in condition to sail and is used solely for the training and instruction of personnel.
This situation has driven various initiatives and approaches with the governments of France and Germany, which, through the companies Naval Group and TKMS, have presented their proposals based on the Scorpène-class and Type 209NG submarines, respectively.
Among the most notable milestones of this process was, in 2024, the signing of a non-binding Letter of Intent between Argentina and France for the acquisition of attack submarines manufactured by Naval Group.
However, in one of its most recent posts on the social network X, the newly created Official Response Office, established by the Executive Branch to refute falsehoods, cast a veil of doubt and uncertainty over the efforts undertaken between Argentina and France to carry out the much-needed acquisition.
In more detail, when refuting an article published by Ámbito Financiero, the Official Response Office stated that: “…while the Executive Branch is analyzing the Argentine Navy’s need to acquire submarines, there is no contract nor is there any purchase currently underway,” a fact that contradicts the statements made by President Milei himself at the end of last year.
In this regard, and within the framework of an interview given by the head of state to the French outlet Public Sénat, Milei stated that Argentina was moving forward with the purchase of submarines from France, as well as patrol vessels for the Argentine Naval Prefecture, highlighting the good relations achieved with Paris.
It should not be overlooked that the acquisition of submarines for Argentina, as for other countries, is usually a process fraught with back-and-forths, with cross-statements, even contrary to the parties’ own interests, before reaching a successful outcome.
Statements by President Milei regarding the purchase of French submarines (from 22:32)
The acquisition of submarines for the Argentine Navy also has a higher profile, as it involves a platform of a strategic nature and with significant ramifications for the recovery of the Nation’s Military Instrument. Hence its estimated value in billions of euros or dollars, requiring an outlay of resources and meticulous financial planning, as well as the corresponding financing.
Finally, and in light of the statements made by the Official Response Office, neither the Ministry of Defense nor the Argentine Navy have so far issued an official statement that would allow clarification of the status of the negotiations, or whether these continue to be postponed while awaiting a better financial situation to address what could become the most significant acquisition of military equipment in decades.
*Photographs used for illustrative purposes.
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