As a direct consequence of the war between the United States and Iran, the Atlantic Dagger Special Operations Exercise, initially planned as one of the main instances of cooperation between Argentine and U.S. forces for this year, has become subject to modifications depending on the international scenario. The Argentine government acknowledges that the original planning will be adjusted and does not rule out a possible cancellation, while the final decision remains contingent on the choices the United States makes in the current Middle East crisis.
For now, the exercise is still expected to take place in the province of Córdoba, although its execution could be subject to change. While the participation of President Javier Milei and Defense Minister Lieutenant General Presti had been contemplated during some of the exercise’s activities, the schedule remains open. In this context, authorities admit that the final format of the operation is still under review and will depend both on the availability of assets and on the evolution of the international situation.
Behind the scenes, the negotiations reflect a more limited scenario compared to the original design. The United States would have reduced part of the planned funding and, for the time being, participation would be limited to fewer than 160 personnel deployed on Argentine territory, well below the initial estimates. This cut responds largely to the need to prioritize resources in other strategic areas, which directly affects the scale and scope of the combined exercise.
Atlantic Dagger, also referred to as “Daga Atlántica,” is part of a cooperation framework formalized in March 2025 through a memorandum of understanding between Argentina’s Joint Special Operations Command and its U.S. counterpart. The main objective of this initiative is to strengthen interoperability between both forces, encourage the exchange of experts, and consolidate common procedures in special operations, in line with international standards.
In its original conception, the exercise envisioned a significant deployment of assets and personnel. On the U.S. side, the participation of elite units such as the Green Berets, the Air Force Special Operations Command, and elements of the Marine Special Operations Command was being evaluated, along with strategic transport aircraft such as the C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, Oshkosh JLTV tactical vehicles, and unmanned systems. The possible presence of an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship had also been mentioned, which would have marked a milestone as its first deployment in the country. On the Argentine side, the participation of Army commando companies, Air Force special operations units, and Navy amphibious elements was anticipated.
In broader terms, the possible reconfiguration of Atlantic Dagger is part of a new process of political and military alignment between Argentina and the United States, recently reinforced by bilateral meetings in Washington led by Minister Presti and focused on defense cooperation.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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