In a significant step for its foreign policy, Argentina formalized its interest in becoming a “global partner” of the Organization of the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO). This application, submitted by the Argentine Defense Minister, Luis Petriin April 2024 at the headquarters of the NATO In Brussels, it marks the desire to “recover links that allow to modernize and train our forces to the NATO standard.”
The NATO It was founded in 1949 after World War II as a collective defense block to counteract the influence of the Soviet Union at the beginning of the Cold War. It is currently composed of 32 member countries of North America and Europe, including Türkiye, which joined NATO in 1952 during the first wave of expansion.
Türkiye, a key NATO member
Since then, Türkiye has played a crucial role due to its strategic location between Europe, Asia and the Middle East and has contributed significantly to the protection of the southeast flank of NATO during the Cold War and today continues to do so in Missions of Crisis Management and Peace Maintenance.
Its importance is reflected in the choice of Istanbul As a meeting point between Russian and Ukrainian authorities to promote peace conversations, in having recently hosted the meeting to promote the increase in financing by member countries, and in their designation as the headquarters of the future NATO 2026 Summit.
In addition, Türkiye It has the second most numerous army of the NATOonly behind the United States. This military capacity allows you to play a central role in rapid deployment operations, crisis management and regional cooperation. Its influence is reinforced by the sustained growth of its defense industry, which also makes it A fundamental partner for countries that seek to strengthen links with the Alliance and strengthen their participation in the fields of security, technological innovation and industrial development in defense.
For its part, Argentina was integrated with the character of “Extra NATO ally” In October 1997 – Status created by the United States Congress in 1989 – which has allowed it to obtain economic benefits (access to financing) and military (armament purchases and participation of military exercises among others). In this context, the strengthening of the bilateral relationship with Türkiyea key member of the NATOacquires particular strategic importance.
Why it is strategic to link with Türkiye
However, it is essential to understand that the strategic importance of promoting and strengthening links between Argentina and Türkiye should not exclusively point to the scope of defense. Although military cooperation is an area with enormous potential and mutual benefits, this link must be seen as an example of a much broader bilateral relationship that is sought to promote.
Türkiye, since the early 2000s, has implemented a more active foreign policy and has positioned itself as an emerging power at a global scale. This strategy has included an exponential expansion of its presence in Latin America. The bilateral relationship with Argentina already has instances of economic cooperation beyond the defense sector. In this sense, from the Argentine-Turca Chamber of Commerce We have been actively promoting these economic and business ties, articulating initiatives that allow converting this complementarity into concrete investment projects, technological transfer and bilateral trade.
There are different examples that demonstrate the strategic linkage Turk-Argentina; and the search to strengthen its commercial, technological and cultural links. Inter alia, We can highlight the joint production between Turkish companies and the INVAP of the Arsat satellite (SG-1).
Within this broader framework, defense cooperation charges a particular relevance due to The modernization needs of the Argentine Armed Forces and the high technological and self -sufficiency level achieved by the Turkish defense industry, which offers a broad spectrum of solutions ranging from electronics, weapons, naval systems, land and aerial. Turkey’s growing capacity to develop and export military equipment positions it as a key strategic ally for those nations that wish to modernize their armed forces without depending solely on traditional powers.
The recent purchase of 24 F-16 combat aircraft used to Denmark, another NATO member, demonstrates a clear definition by the Argentine government in its alignment with the block of the block NATO. More specifically as far as the relationship with Türkiye does, our country is evaluating a modernization project for its Destroyers Meko 360 presented by a Turkish company.
Similarly, the Turkish industry could offer solutions for the modernization of armored vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS), helicopters and even hyperbaric cameras for medical treatments and decompression cameras. The existing Argentine industry could benefit greatly from technology transfer and the creation of joint companies.
In search of strengthening commercial ties
Argentina’s search for a global association with NATO and the strengthening of its bilateral links with a strategic ally of the alliance as Türkiye are interconnected movements. In this way, Türkiye It emerges as an indispensable strategic partner.
For Türkiye, Argentina represents a strategic potential and an entrance door to Latin America, and in turn, Türkiye can be the entrance door to Europe and the Middle East for Argentina.
Turquia.webp
Technological, industrial and commercial cooperation between the two countries is presented as a “win-win” scenario and therefore it is essential to continue having bridges between the two countries.
It is in this line, which takes special relevance the role of entities such as Argentine-Turca Chamber of Commerce To channel this process, generating institutional cooperation spaces that enhance the economic relationship and cultural exchange between the two countries.
President of the Turkish Argentine Chamber of Commerce.
Source: Ambito
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