In the context of ongoing discussions in the legislative arena on National Defense—prompted by Defense Minister Luis Petri’s visit to the Defense Committee of the Chamber of Deputies—Dr. Joaquín Labarta, former Undersecretary of Operational Planning and Logistic Services, confirmed via X (formerly Twitter) that the Argentine Armed Forces received medium and large-caliber ammunition purchased from China during the previous administration, and delivered under the current one, now in charge of the Libertador Building.
The statement was made by the former official in a post on his personal X account, in response to a message from the current Minister of Defense regarding acquisitions made during the previous term. Quoting directly, Labarta stated: “During the previous administration, medium and large-caliber ammunition from China was delivered.”
This confirmation gains significance in light of reporting by Zona Militar in April 2023, when it was revealed that the Ministry of Defense was evaluating a potential purchase of ammunition and uniforms from the Chinese state-owned company NORINCO (China North Industries Corporation), one of the world’s leading suppliers of military arms and equipment.
At the time, several official sources indicated that the matter was still in an exploratory phase, aimed at addressing chronic logistical deficits affecting certain units of the Argentine Army and other branches. The evaluations included technical assessments of 105mm and 155mm artillery shells, as well as smaller-caliber ammunition for infantry weapons, along with uniforms and personal gear.
Although the results of these evaluations were never officially disclosed and the purchase was not formally confirmed, Dr. Labarta’s statements suggest that some of these efforts did in fact result in the delivery and distribution of Chinese-made ammunition to Argentine military units.
The origin of this materiel is no minor detail. In the current geopolitical context, and considering the current administration’s strong alignment with the United States, such an acquisition could potentially lead to friction between the two governments.
So far, no official documents have been published detailing the type, quantity, or terms of the ammunition acquisition. Nor have current officials from the Ministry of Defense made public comments regarding the continuation or review of these contracts signed with the People’s Republic of China.
Cover photo used for illustrative purposes only.
