The strategic alliance between the Republic of Argentina and the United States has reached a new milestone with the recent acquisition of key defense systems, including F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets and 8×8 Stryker armored vehicles, marking a new phase in the strengthening of bilateral cooperation.
During an official meeting held on July 2 at the Pentagon, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth formally welcomed Argentine Defense Minister Luis Petri to advance a joint agenda aimed at institutionalizing the defense relationship and countering malign influences in the Western Hemisphere.
“Regional peace demands the utmost will and tenacity. We can face these shared security challenges together — and I know we will,” said Hegseth, who praised Argentina’s commitment to modernizing its Armed Forces, highlighting recent strategic acquisitions such as the F-16s and Strykers.
Petri, in turn, emphasized: “Our relationship with the United States is at its best, and our partnership will continue to grow across all areas of government, but fundamentally in defense.” He also praised the recent U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 21, 2025, stating that it “contributed to global peace” and reaffirmed Argentina’s commitment to the fight against international terrorism.
The meeting also addressed other strategic areas of cooperation, such as space capability development, access to critical minerals, the situation in the South Atlantic, and plans for deeper collaboration in regional security and mutual defense.
The acquisition of the F-16 Fighting Falcons — in service with multiple air forces worldwide — was finalized through an agreement with Denmark, which included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Petri and his Danish counterpart, Troels Lund Poulsen, in Copenhagen. This step will enable the Argentine Air Force to regain its supersonic combat capabilities after decades of underinvestment, replacing the old Mirage III/Finger interceptors.
The U.S. Department of Defense praised the “productive meeting” between the two ministers and reaffirmed its commitment to advancing a “solid, deep, and lasting partnership,” in line with the objectives set by the administrations of Joe Biden and Javier Milei, marking a renewed phase of strategic alignment and hemispheric cooperation.
Stronger Defense Ties with the United States
As part of an ambitious military modernization and international repositioning agenda, Argentina has taken new concrete steps to solidify its strategic defense alliance with the United States. On Tuesday, July 2, during his official visit to Washington, Defense Minister Luis Petri announced the signing of the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) for the acquisition of the first 8×8 Stryker Armored Combat Vehicles (VCBR) for the Argentine Army.
The ceremony took place at the Pentagon, where Petri was received by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. On social media, the minister celebrated the agreement as part of Argentina’s effort to recover strategic capabilities to “defend our sovereignty and guarantee peace for all Argentines.”
According to available information, the initial purchase includes eight turretless 8×8 Stryker vehicles, likely of the M1126 variant, sourced from U.S. Army surplus. These units are preserved and serviceable, equipped with mounts for 12.7mm machine guns as their primary armament.
Bilateral cooperation is also deepening in the air domain. The Chief of the Argentine Air Force General Staff, Brigadier General Gustavo Javier Valverde, recently confirmed that a formal process has begun to acquire two KC-135R Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft through a direct transfer (hot transfer) mechanism from the U.S. Air Force. These aircraft will play a key role in supporting and sustaining Argentina’s incoming F-16 fleet.
This strengthening of ties with Washington is part of a broader relationship of mutual cooperation, in which Argentina not only acquires more modern military technology but also positions itself as a regional strategic ally of the United States. This alignment extends beyond direct purchases: due to U.S. export control regulations, all military equipment containing U.S. technology — even if sourced from third countries — requires U.S. authorization to be transferred. This was the case with the 24 F-16s acquired from Denmark, whose delivery required prior approval from the U.S. State Department.
Through these acquisitions, Argentina is making progress in its military recovery and strategic integration with the West, reaffirming its commitment to regional stability, counterterrorism efforts, and strengthening its deterrent capabilities in an increasingly complex global geopolitical landscape.
What Comes Next?
As the developments above show, Argentina is clearly committed to modernizing its Armed Forces, and this momentum is expected to continue in the short and medium term. Other acquisitions remain on the government’s radar, one of which is the purchase of used UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. While no formal agreement or seller has been confirmed, such a transaction would again require U.S. approval due to the aircraft’s embedded technology.
Argentina is also exploring the acquisition of heavy and medium-lift helicopters for the Air Force, such as the CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-47 Chinook. Brigadier Valverde stated: “…Regarding heavy and medium-heavy rotary-wing aircraft, we continue working on acquiring and restoring such capabilities. […] Regarding the CH-47, the U.S. has not made any units available to date. As for the CH-46, after an exhaustive evaluation, we have concluded that it would not be suitable for incorporation, as it is a system that has been retired…”
Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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