2024-04-03 16:54:19
In another gesture from Joe Biden to Javier Milei, the United States is finalizing the details to send one of its most powerful aircraft carriers to the region in May. This is the USS George Washington, the fourth most important ship in the North American Navy. Since 2010, a ship of these characteristics has not come to Argentina.
The arrival of the ship George Washington was confirmed at a press conference by the presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, within the framework of the visit to the country of the head of the US Southern Command, the influential General Laura Richardson.
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The details of the movement of the aircraft carrier – which had been anticipated on the Radar International site – are still not completely closed, as TN learned from different sources in the Argentine Armed Forces (FFAA).
The USS George Washington aircraft carrier is the fourth largest in the US Navy’s fleet. (Photo file: Reuters)
In order for a joint military exercise to be carried out with a foreign country or for a warship to moor within Argentine territory, Congressional approval is required. Given the national political context and the difficulty of promoting this project, it is stipulated that the aircraft carrier will sail at a speed that respects international standards of sea sovereignty but that allows it to pass through Argentina.
The USS George Washington is a nuclear-powered ship that was launched in July 1990, has a length of more than 330 meters and a width of 76 meters. It has different radar systems, a capacity to accommodate 3,200 crew members and 90 airplanes and helicopters.
Key meeting for F-16 fighter jets
The head of the Southern Command, Laura Richardson, arrived in Buenos Aires last night to carry out a visit that will last 3 days. Accompanied by Ambassador Marc Stanley, her agenda began today with meetings with the Minister of Defense, Luis Petri, and the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Argentine Armed Forces, Xavier Isaac.
In the afternoon he will meet with the Foreign Minister, Diana Mondino, and will visit the Casa Rosada to hold a meeting with the Chief of Staff, Nicolás Posse. It is not ruled out that a meeting with President Javier Milei will take place. In the two previous visits that Richardson had to the country, the highest level meeting took place with Cristina Kirchner, when the then vice president received her in the Senate.
As TN learned, among the most important points that appeared on the agenda of the morning meeting with Argentine military leaders was the purchase of the 24 F-16 combat aircraft and the presence of China in the region, a concern which Richardson previously stated on different occasions.
Another of the central points on the agenda will occur when the North American military chief participates in the transfer of a Hercules C-130 aircraft valued at approximately 30 million dollars and is part of a security assistance donation financed by the United States.
Laura Richardson will be in Argentina for three days and a meeting with Milei is not ruled out. (Photo: AFP)
Last week, Argentina signed a letter of intent with Denmark to advance the purchase of supersonic aircraft of North American construction, but Danish property. The signing was carried out due to the visit of the Minister of Defense of that country, Troels Lund Poulsen. Petri is expected to travel during the course of April.
Although the money for the acquisition of these aircraft was already scheduled in last year’s budget – which was extended from 2022 -, Argentina is negotiating with the United States the provision of the weapons that accompanies the F-16. Hence the importance of the meeting with Richardson.
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The Argentine efforts can be facilitated if we take into account not only the geopolitical positioning that Javier Milei adopted since he arrived at the Casa Rosada, but also because the chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Xavier Isaac, was the one who most promoted this purchase since He was head of the Argentine Air Force. This is recognized and valued by the North American authorities.
Among the Defense and Security authorities of Argentina they know that the influential North American general – who fought as a helicopter pilot in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – comes with the intention of exerting influence so that Buenos Aires moves further away from Beijing and closer to Washington in highly sensitive sectors. The space base that China has in Neuquén is proof of this.
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