Argentina in NATO

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On the necessary enlargement of the Alliance, and a possible agreement on the Falkland Islands/Malvinas with the United Kingdom

Russia’s war on Ukraine, Moscow’s destabilisation operations in the Middle East and Africa, and the increasingly aggressive stance of the People’s Republic of China, as evidenced by the destruction of Hong Kong’s autonomy, the increasing political and military intimidation of Taiwan and the attacks on the Tibetan and Uighur national identities, have profoundly altered the process of globalisation that has been underway for some forty years. The formerly global international order, based on respect for the rule of law, now concerns only one part of the world.

There is every reason to believe that this situation will continue, giving rise to a world divided into three blocs: the bloc of authoritarian and totalitarian regimes grouped around the PRC and Russia, a « Western bloc » of democratic countries grouped around the United States, and between these two, a new bloc of "non-aligned" countries including India and many countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. These countries will shift between the first and second blocs according to their interests, as well as their economic, financial or security dependencies. Even the possible election of Donald Trump will not manage to undermine this trend. On the other hand, even a partial Russian victory in Ukraine would permanently weaken the « Western » bloc.

In these troubled times, this « bloc » has only one real instrument with which it can mount a resistance against the imperialist designs of the authoritarian bloc: NATO. This defensive alliance proved its worth during the Cold War and (given the circumstances) in the face of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. However, not all the members of the Western bloc are part of the Alliance. We do not mean Ukraine, whose future membership of NATO is now a foregone conclusion. Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, and even the Philippines, have yet to join. Yet a « global » enlargement is imperative. Not everyone understands this. Paris, for example, has opposed the opening of a Nato office in Japan. This obstruction is all the more incomprehensible given that the security of France’s Pacific territories – Polynesia and New Caledonia – ultimately depends on the global deterrent that only the United States can guarantee.

The opportunity to enlarge NATO should not be limited to Asia, especially when a country openly expresses its interest, as Argentina has done, through President Javier Milei.

Unfortunately, Argentina’s interest in joining NATO clashes with the ongoing dispute between Buenos Aires and London over the Falklands. However, Argentina’s aspirations could offer the new government of Keir Starmer and President Milei the opportunity to put an end to the Falkland Islands dispute, and open a new chapter in Argentine-British relations.

An agreement between the United Kingdom and Argentina could be shaped as follows:
● Following the example of the Principality of Andorra, the British monarch and the Argentine president could be the joint heads of the autonomous region of the Falklands/Malvinas.
● The autonomous status of the Falklands/Malvinas would remain essentially unchanged. The islanders would retain general control over domestic policy, as well as control over fishery resources in the territorial sea (12 nautical miles). The inhabitants would receive Argentine nationality in addition to their British nationality.

● The UK and Argentina would jointly manage the exploitation of resources in the exclusive economic zone (200 nautical miles). Argentina would appoint a minister responsible for implementing these policies, acting in agreement with his UK counterpart.
● The defence of the territory and its exclusive economic zone would be a joint operation of the British and Argentine armed forces.

An agreement of this kind between the UK and Argentina would also allow all diplomatic and economic restrictions that still plague their bilateral relations to be lifted, and would create suitable conditions for the UK to support Argentina’s application to join NATO.

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