Santiago Caputo lashes out at critics of the U.S. military presence in Argentina

Through social media, Santiago Caputo, a key presidential advisor of the current government, responded forcefully to questions regarding the arrival of U.S. delegations in Argentine territory. His statements sparked controversy by harshly criticizing opponents who questioned these diplomatic movements. The context of this controversy reflects broader tensions over national sovereignty and the strategic relationship between Argentina and the United States.

Bipartisan Missions in Strategic Provinces

In recent days, two delegations of U.S. Congress members arrived in Argentina for official visits. A Boeing C-40 Clipper aircraft landed at “Malvinas Argentinas” airport last Monday, bringing a delegation from the House of Representatives’ Committee on Energy and Commerce. This delegation traveled to Tierra del Fuego province to meet with government officials.

The U.S. representatives focused their agenda on issues such as environmental degradation, permitting for mining and waste management, and the processing of critical minerals. Simultaneously, another delegation arrived in Neuquén to inspect operations at Vaca Muerta, the country’s main hydrocarbon-producing region.

Later, this Tuesday, a second group arrived, this time composed of members of the Committee on Education and Workforce, led by Representative Tim Walberg. Their visit included meetings to analyze Argentine policies on education, labor development, cybersecurity, and governance frameworks for artificial intelligence.

Santiago Caputo’s Response to Criticism

The delegations immediately provoked reactions from the opposition. Some sectors of Kirchnerism denounced the lack of prior notification about these arrivals and filed reports in the Senate. Senator Cristina López led the questioning, arguing that the presence of these delegations would constitute a “surrender of sovereignty” and warned against turning the province into a “foreign military base.”

Santiago Caputo responded promptly. Through messages on X, he criticized those questioning the visits, using strong and direct language. He pointed out that opponents reacted disproportionately to the arrival of delegations from “the world’s leading power and main strategic partner of the new Argentina.”

The presidential advisor argued that these critics remained silent about previous agreements with other nations that, in his view, involved greater concessions of sovereignty. He also directed criticism at the media, accusing them of amplifying these concerns under the influence of sectors aligned with the political left.

Official Position from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

In response to the scandal, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno issued the government’s first official clarification. On social media, he explained that both delegations were part of routine visits related to international interest in the Argentine government’s plans.

Quirno defended the handling of information, noting that relevant authorities had been informed and that the countries themselves announced these delegations. However, he rejected criticism regarding the lack of prior public communication, arguing that prior notification of these military flights would be more transparent than media leaks once the delegations were already on Argentine soil.

The foreign minister emphasized that the presence of these delegations reflected the importance that the international scene assigns to Argentina and its current policies. Nonetheless, the Foreign Ministry refrained from providing specific details about the exact members of the missions or the confidential agenda of their meetings, keeping certain aspects of diplomatic negotiations undisclosed.

The controversy highlights internal political tensions regarding Argentina’s role in hemispheric geopolitics and the participation of external powers in decisions concerning strategic national resources.