Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic
{{Short description|Combined military forces of Argentina}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox national military
| country = Argentina
| name = Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic
| native_name = {{lang|es|Fuerzas Armadas de la República Argentina}}
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| founded = 29 May 1810
| disbanded =
| branches = {{ubl|20px Argentine Army|20px Argentine Navy|20px Argentine Air Force|{{hr}}National Gendarmerie|Naval Prefecture {{small|(in case of war)}}}}
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| commander-in-chief = President Javier Gerardo Milei
| commander-in-chief_title =Commander-in-chief
| chief minister =
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| minister = Luis Petri
| minister_title = Minister of Defense
| commander = Brigadier General Xavier Isaac
| commander_title = Chief of the Joint General Staff
| conscription =
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| amount = $2.9 billion (2022){{Cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.CD?locations=AR|title = Military expenditure (Current USD) - Argentina | Data}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1928453-el-papel-de-las-fuerzas-armadas|title=El papel de las Fuerzas Armadas|website=lanacion.com.ar|date=16 August 2016|access-date=19 August 2016|archive-date=8 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008025956/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1928453-el-papel-de-las-fuerzas-armadas|url-status=dead}}
| percent_GDP =
| domestic_suppliers = Argentine defense industry
| foreign_suppliers = {{USA}}
{{FRA}}
{{GER}}
{{ESP}}
{{ISR}}
{{BRA}}
{{AUT}}
{{RUS}}
{{ITA}}
{{BEL}}
{{SWE}}
{{TUR}}
| imports =
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| history = Military history of Argentina
Warfare directory of Argentina
Wars involving Argentina
Battles involving Argentina
| ranks = Military ranks of Argentina
}}
The Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic ({{langx|es|Fuerzas Armadas de la República Argentina}}) are the combined armed forces of Argentina. It is controlled by the Commander-in-Chief (the President) and a civilian Minister of Defense. In addition to the Army, Navy and Air Force, there are two security forces, controlled by the Ministry of Security, which can be mobilized on occasion of an armed conflict: the National Gendarmerie, a gendarmerie used to guard borders and places of strategic importance; and the Naval Prefecture, a coast guard used to protect internal major rivers and maritime territory.
Traditionally, Argentina maintains close defense cooperation and military-supply relationships with the United States and to a lesser extent, with Israel, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, Belarus, Italy, and Russia.
As of 2024, the current Chief of the General Staff is the Air Force Brigadier General Xavier Isaac.{{Cite web |title=BOLETIN OFICIAL REPUBLICA ARGENTINA - MINISTERIO DE DEFENSA - Decreto 120/2023 |url=https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/301490 |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=www.boletinoficial.gob.ar}}
History
{{See also|Military history of Argentina}}
{{Original research section|date=December 2012}}
The oldest forces of the Argentinian military are the Argentinian Army and the Argentinian Navy, both created in 1810, during the Argentine War of Independence, while the Argentinian Air Force was established in 1945. The Argentine military played a role in the institutional life of the country, during a series of coups d'état that took place in the 20th century.
= 1955–1963 internal strife=
{{See also|1963 Argentine Navy revolt}}
After the Revolución Libertadora coup that deposed president Juan Domingo Perón in 1955, the armed forces split into opposing sectors named Azules y colorados ("Blues and Reds"). The fight would end in 1963 with military clashes and the defeat of the reds who were opposed to Perón.
= 1965 Operacion 90 =
File:Saludo a la Bandera Argentina durante la Operación 90.jpg
In 1965, the Argentine military conducted a 10-man patrol on Antarctica called Operación 90 under then-Colonel Jorge E. Leal to perform scientific observations and promote Argentina's claim to a portion of the continent.
= 1975 Counter-insurgency =
{{main|Operativo Independencia}}
In 1975 the armed forces started a massive operation in the Tucumán Province to crush the ERP (Ejército Revolucionario del Pueblo or People's Revolutionary Army) guevarist guerrilla group which attempted to create a "revolutionary foco in this remote and mountainous province, in the north-west of Argentina."
=National Reorganization Process=
{{main|National Reorganization Process}}
{{See also|Dirty War}}
The last military dictatorship, the National Reorganization Process, lasted from 1976 to 1983. As Isabel Perón was unable to defeat the terrorist organizations of Montoneros and ERP, the military took power during the 1976 Argentine coup d'état and exterminated the violent communist guerrillas by random detentions, torture or death. The government of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner that sympathized with Perón, antagonized the Armed Forces with the justification of the past junta and limited the powers of the armed forced to avoid state terrorism of the past.
==1978 Beagle Conflict==
{{main|Operation Soberania}}
{{See also|Argentina–Chile relations}}
==1982 Malvinas War==
{{main|Malvinas War}}
Image:Etendard en 1982.jpg were used in the Malvinas War.]]
On 2 April 1982, Argentine forces invaded the British overseas territory of the Falkland Islands, followed shortly afterwards by the invasion of South Georgia. Britain sent a task force to recover the islands. Argentina surrendered on 14 June. The political effect of the surrender lead to protests against the dictatorship, which hastened its downfall.
=1983 transition to democracy=
The democratic government of Raúl Alfonsín that took office in 1983 prosecuted the 1970s crimes and made the unprecedented (and only Latin American example) Trial of the Juntas and soon the Army was rocked by uprisings and internal infighting. Far-right sectors of the Army rebelled in the Carapintadas (painted faces) movement. To contain the rebellions, Alfonsín promoted the Full stop law and the Law of due obedience. The following president, Carlos Menem, gave the presidential pardon to the military found guilty in the Trial of the Juntas. It would not be until 1990, when the last military uprising in Argentine history was crushed, that the political conflict within the Army finally subsided.
In January 1989, during the subversive attack on La Tablada, the Army used white phosphorus in a violation of the Geneva Convention (according to a document presented by the human rights commission of the United Nations on January 12, 2001).[http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/0/298628a9022c5e06c12569fb00576635?OpenDocument E/CN.4/2001/NGO/98], United Nations, January 12, 2001 - URL accessed on February 9, 2007 {{in lang|es}}; ANSA cable quoted by the RaiNews24: [http://www.rainews24.rai.it/ran24/inchiesta/mk77.asp See frame on the right] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730084129/http://www.rainews24.rai.it/ran24/inchiesta/mk77.asp |date=2012-07-30 }} {{in lang|it}}.
= Gulf War and 1990s =
Argentina was the only Latin American country to participate in the 1991 Gulf War sending a destroyer and a corvette in first term and a supply ship and another corvette later to participate on the United Nations blockade and sea control effort of the gulf. The success of "Operación Alfil" (English: "Operation Bishop") as it was known, with more than 700 interceptions and {{convert|25000|nmi|km}} sailed on the operations theatre helped to overcome the so-called "Malvinas syndrome".{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}
From 1990 to 1992, the Baradero-class patrol boats were deployed under UN mandate ONUCA to the Gulf of Fonseca in Central America. In 1994, the three Drummond-class corvettes participated on Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti.{{Citation needed|date=April 2014}}
Also, in the 1990s, Argentine Armed Forces began a close defense cooperation and friendship policy with neighbors Brazil and Chile, with emphasis on fulfillment of United Nations mandates.
The Argentine military have been reduced both in number and budget, but became more professional, especially after conscription was abolished by president Menem. The British embargo due to the Falklands War ({{langx|es|Guerra de las Malvinas|links=no}}) was officially eliminated and Argentina was granted Major Non-NATO ally status by United States President Bill Clinton.{{cite web|url=http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/intlrel/hfa44953.000/hfa44953_0.htm|title=Overview of U.S. Policy Toward South America and the President's Upcoming Trip to the Region|website=commdocs.house.gov}}
= Present =
Image:Granaderos-san-martin.JPG across the Andes in 1817 to liberate Chile and Peru]]
The modern Argentine Armed Forces are committed to international peacekeeping under United Nations mandates, humanitarian aid on emergencies relief and support the country's continuous presence at Antarctica.
Democratic governments since 1983 streamlined the military budget and did not approve any large scale equipment purchases. Argentina military spending is one of the lowest of South America{{cite web|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=127366|title=El presupuesto militar argentino, uno de los más bajos de la región|website=lanacion.com.ar}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=804289|title=Argentina sólo gasta 80 millones de dólares anuales en armamento.}} and as of 2010, its 0.9% of GDP only exceeds Suriname{{cite web|url=http://www.perfil.com/contenidos/2010/07/25/noticia_0005.html|title=El presupuesto para Defensa es el más bajo de la historia|date=19 May 2018|website=perfil.com|access-date=27 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924113240/http://www.perfil.com/contenidos/2010/07/25/noticia_0005.html|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}} Within the defence budget itself funding for training and even basic maintenance was significantly cut, a factor contributing to the accidental loss of the Argentine submarine San Juan in 2017. The result has been a steady erosion of Argentine military capabilities, with some arguing that Argentina had, by the end of the 2010s, ceased to be a capable military power.{{Cite web|url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/argentina-has-now-ceased-to-be-a-capable-military-power/|title = Argentina has now ceased to be a capable military power|date = 16 May 2018}}
The small-scale capability modernization that Argentina has attempted has been actively opposed by the United Kingdom. In 2019 the Argentine Air Force and government selected the Korean KAI FA-50 as its interim fighter to replace its aging Falklands-vintage aircraft. However, the deal was cancelled in early 2020 leaving the Air Force without a fighter replacement. British intervention was apparently a key factor in the cancellation with Britain stopping the export of the aircraft incorporating various British components.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2020/10/31/no-fa-50s-for-you-uk-diplomats-swat-down-argentine-fighter-plan/?sh=19263f0318d0|title=No FA-50s for You! U.K. Bureaucrats Swat Down Argentine Fighter Plan|website=Forbes}} In October 2020, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) confirmed that since major components of the aircraft were supplied by the U.K., the aircraft could not be exported to Argentina. Britain similarly blocked the potential sale of Brazilian license-built Saab Gripen aircraft to Argentina given avionics that were of British origin.{{Cite web|url=https://en.mercopress.com/2020/10/31/uk-bars-sale-of-south-korean-fighter-jets-for-the-argentine-air-force|title = UK bars sale of South Korean fighter jets for the Argentine air force}}
In 2003, for the first time, the Argentine Navy (classified as a major non-NATO ally) interoperated with a United States Navy battlegroup when destroyer ARA Sarandí (D-13) joined the USS Enterprise Carrier Strike Group and Destroyer Squadron 18 as a part of Exercise Solid Step during their tour in the Mediterranean Sea.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}
On June 12, 2006, President Néstor Kirchner brought into force the Defense Law, which had been passed in 1988 as a means to modernize the doctrine of the armed forces and define their role.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}} The law states that the armed forces will only be used against foreign aggression, and reduces the powers of the heads of the armed services, centralizing whole operational and acquisitions decisions under the authority of the Armed Forces Joint General Staff ({{langx|es|Estado Mayor Conjunto de las Fuerzas Armadas|links=no}} – EMC ) emphasizing Jointness.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}
In 2007, an agreement for cooperation in peace operations was signed with France.{{cite web|url=http://infodefensa.com/lamerica/noticias/noticias.asp?cod=2026&ref=Tierra&n=Argentina-y-Francia-hablan-de-cooperan-en-la-construcci%25F3n-de-buque-anfibio-y-la-modernizaci%25F3n-de-aviones-y-helic%25F3pteros|title=Noticias de industria de defensa y seguridad en España y América|first=Revista Defensa|last=Infodefensa.com|date=20 May 2018|website=infodefensa.com}}{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
A combined Argentinian-Chilean force for future United Nations Mandates was created.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/Archivo/nota.asp?nota_id=864864|title=Avance para la fuerza combinada con Chile}} Named Cruz del Sur ({{langx|en|Southern Cross}}), the new force began assembly in 2008 with its headquarters alternating between the two countries each year.{{cite news|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/996604|title=Destinan $30 millones para operar con Chile|newspaper=La Nación}}
In 2009, UNASUR, the South American countries union, created the CDS ( Spanish: Consejo de Defensa Sudamericano (South American Defence council) in order to promote cooperation and transparency between their armed forces{{cite web|url=http://www.cdsunasur.org/|title=CDS official site )|website=cdsunasur.org}}
As of 2011, they perform with Chile the PARACACH (Patrulla de Rescate Antártica Combinada Argentina-Chile, Argentine Chilean Antarctic combined search and rescue patrol) with support from the German Space Agency which provided satellite imagery{{cite web|url=http://www.infodefensa.com/?noticia=los-ejercitos-de-chile-y-argentina-realizan-el-ejercicio-conjunto-sar-terrestre-2011-en-la-antartida&categoria=&pais=Argentina|title=Los Ejércitos de Chile y Argentina realizan el ejercicio conjunto 'SAR Terrestre 2011' en la Antártida - Noticias Infodefensa América|last=Infodefensa.com|date=26 September 2011|website=infodefensa.com}}
Structure
The three branches of the Argentine Armed Forces are under the direct authority of the Defense Ministry, while the Argentine National Gendarmerie and the Argentine Naval Prefecture, as security forces, under the direct authority of the Ministry of Security.
class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="min-width:50em; font-size:88%"
! colspan=5 | Armed Forces (responsible to Defence Ministry) |
English
!Spanish !Acronym !Description !Official website |
---|
Ministry of Defense
|Ministerio de Defensa |MINDEF |https://web.archive.org/web/20161014182417/http://www.mindef.gov.ar/ |
Argentine Army (includes Intelligence Service)
|Ejército Argentino |EA |Army |http://www.ejercito.mil.ar/ |
Argentine Navy (includes Intelligence Service)
|Armada de la República Argentina |ARA |Navy |https://web.archive.org/web/20161015004044/http://www.ara.mil.ar/ |
Argentine Air Force (includes Intelligence Service)
|Fuerza Aérea Argentina |FAA |https://web.archive.org/web/19971014225715/http://www.faa.mil.ar/ |
class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="min-width:50em; font-size:88%"
! colspan=5 | Security Forces (responsible to Ministry of Security) |
English
!Spanish !Acronym !Class !Official website |
---|
Ministry of Security
|Ministerio de Seguridad |MINSEG |http://www.minseg.gob.ar/ |
Argentine National Gendarmerie (includes Scorpion Group)
|Gendarmería Nacional Argentina |GNA |https://www.argentina.gob.ar/gendarmeria |
Argentine Naval Prefecture (includes Albatros Group)
|Prefectura Naval Argentina |PNA |https://web.archive.org/web/20160117010806/http://www.prefecturanaval.gov.ar/ |
class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="min-width:50em; font-size:88%"
! colspan=5 | Inter-service institutions |
English
!Spanish !Acronym !Class !Official website |
---|
Armed Forces Joint General Staff (includes Intelligence Service)
|Estado Mayor Conjunto de las Fuerzas Armadas |EMCFA |Joint high command |https://web.archive.org/web/20161012085249/http://www.fuerzas-armadas.mil.ar/ |
National Directorate of Strategic Military Intelligence
|Dirección Nacional de Inteligencia Estratégica Militar |DNIEM |Intelligence support agency |https://web.archive.org/web/20161014182417/http://www.mindef.gov.ar/ |
National Geographic Institute
|Instituto Geográfico Nacional |IGN |Geographic support agency |http://www.ign.gov.ar/{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} |
Armed Forces Intelligence Institute
|Instituto de Inteligencia de las Fuerzas Armadas |IIFA |Intelligence support agency |https://web.archive.org/web/20070517091519/http://www.iifa.mil.ar/ |
Armed Forces Scientific and Technical Research Centre (includes Information Security, Section 6)
|Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de las Fuerzas Armadas |Research and development agency |http://www.citefa.gov.ar/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917180911/http://citefa.gov.ar/ |date=2017-09-17 }} |
Argentine Joint Training Centre for Peace Operations
|Centro Argentino de Entrenamiento Conjunto para Operaciones de Paz |CAECOPAZ |Specialized training centre |https://web.archive.org/web/20060501014635/http://www.fuerzas-armadas.mil.ar/caecopaz/index.htm |
International participation
Argentina was the only South American country to send warships and cargo planes in 1991 to the Gulf War under UN mandate and has remained involved in peacekeeping efforts in multiple locations like UNPROFOR in Croatia/Bosnia, Gulf of Fonseca, UNFICYP in Cyprus (where among Army and Marines troops the Air Force provided the UN Air contingent since 1994) and MINUSTAH in Haiti.
UNFICYP was also a precedent in the Latin American military as troops of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay are embedded in the Argentine contingent[http://www.jef3op.ejercito.mil.ar/website/Departamentos/oomp/paginas/UNFICYP.htm Argentine Army: UNFICYP] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070423134408/http://www.jef3op.ejercito.mil.ar/website/Departamentos/oomp/paginas/UNFICYP.htm |date=April 23, 2007 }}
[https://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unficyp/facts.html UN: Cyprus - UNFICYP - Facts and Figures] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907233708/http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unficyp/facts.html |date=September 7, 2009 }}
[http://www.ejercito.cl/presencia_internacional/pop_mision_chipre.htm Chilean Army: Misión de la ONU en Chipre desde el año 2003] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612064149/http://www.ejercito.cl/presencia_internacional/pop_mision_chipre.htm |date=June 12, 2007 }}
[http://www.exercito.gov.br/04Maoami/missaopaz/unficyp/indice.htm Brazilian Army: UNFICYP] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218113513/http://www.exercito.gov.br/04Maoami/missaopaz/unficyp/indice.htm |date=February 18, 2007 }}
Since 1999 and as of June 2006, Argentina is the only Latin American country to maintain troops in Kosovo during SFOR (and later EUFOR) operations where combat engineers of the Argentine Armed Forces are embedded in an Italian brigade.
In 2007, an Argentine contingent including helicopters, boats and water purification plants was sent to help Bolivia against their worst floods in decades.{{cite web|url=http://www.gacetamarinera.com.ar/index.php?SESID=662a1ef16ed420aeb93b117d1c4fabc6&mp_id=1&mp_op=1&seccion=principal¬a_id=3209|title=Gaceta Marinera - Portal Oficial de Noticias de la Armada Argentina|first=Armada|last=Argentina|website=www.gacetamarinera.com.ar}} In 2010 the Armed Forces were also involved in Haiti and Chile humanitarian responses after their respective earthquakes.
- Haiti - UN MINUSTAH [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyeVbkHzDtc video] ( Including the Mobile Field Hospital and helicopters )
- Cyprus - UN UNFICYP ( including ARGAIR helicopters{{Cite web|url=http://www.faa.mil.ar/misiones/chipre.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805064150/http://www.faa.mil.ar/misiones/chipre.html|url-status=dead|title=ARGAIR|archivedate=August 5, 2010}} )
- Serbia/Province Kosovo - NATO KFOR (CICKO) [https://web.archive.org/web/20090310164446/http://www.jef3op.ejercito.mil.ar/website/Departamentos/oomp/kfor/galeria.htm pictorial]
- Serbia/Province Kosovo - UN UNMIK
- Belgium - NATO ICC-SHAPE
- Bosnia - NATO EUFOR
And as military observers in UNTSO, MINURSO, UNMIL, MONUC, UNMIS and UNOCI.
Argentina was also responsible for the White Helmets initiative.
Gallery
JUNIN Centro Desfile Militar 001.jpg|Independence Day Army parade, Junín, 2004
Ingreso Campo Skouriotissa.jpg|San Martin camp for UNFICYP in Cyprus
US Navy 040813-N-0507C-001 The guided missile frigate USS Crommelin (FFG 37) and an Argentinean P-3 aircraft patrol the northern approach to the Panama Canal.jpg|P-3B on joint operations in Panama
UAV Lipan II.JPG|Research and Development: UAV Lipan
Cicare CH-14 Aguilucho.jpg|Development: CH-14 Aguilucho
Super Etendard ARA 204.jpg|Super Étendard naval fighter
Argentina Air Force Lockheed Martin A-4AR Fightinghawk Lofting-2.jpg|A-4AR strike-fighter
Base Argentina Brown Puerto Paraiso Cartel.jpg|Argentine Antarctic presence
Tanque TAM.jpg|TAM medium tank
D13 ARA Sarandi DN-SC-91-01826.jpg|MEKO-360H2 class destroyer
See also
{{Portal|Argentina}}
References
=Notes=
{{Reflist|2}}
=Sources=
{{refbegin}}
- {{CIA World Factbook|year=2006}}
- {{StateDept}}
{{refend}}
Further reading
- {{cite web |url=http://www.nuevamayoria.com/ES/INVESTIGACIONES/?id=defensa&file=070518.htm |title=Medio siglo de gastos para la Defensa y la Seguridad (1950-1965) - 1ra parte |last1=Osacar |first1=Ignacio J. |language=es |date=18 May 2007 |website=NuevaMayoria.com |publisher=Centro de Estudios Nueva Mayoría |location=Buenos Aires, Argentina |access-date=2 January 2015 |archive-date=2 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102084749/http://www.nuevamayoria.com/ES/INVESTIGACIONES/?id=defensa&file=070518.htm |url-status=dead }}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.nuevamayoria.com/ES/INVESTIGACIONES/defensa/070605.html |title=Medio siglo de gastos para la Defensa y la Seguridad en Argentina (1976-2006)- 2da. Parte |last1=Osacar |first1=Ignacio J. |language=es |date=5 June 2007 |website=NuevaMayoria.com |publisher=Centro de Estudios Nueva Mayoría |location=Buenos Aires, Argentina |access-date=2 January 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091735/http://www.nuevamayoria.com/ES/INVESTIGACIONES/defensa/070605.html |url-status=dead }}
External links
- {{official website}} {{in lang|es}}
{{Argentine Military}}
{{Argentina topics}}
{{Military of South America}}
{{Argentine government}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Armed Forces Of The Argentine Republic}}