Published 03/20/2026 08:00 | Edited 03/20/2026 11:21
Amid the worsening economic crisis and deteriorating living conditions in Argentina, Javier Milei’s government raised the possibility of sending troops to support the United States in the war against Iran.
The statement, made by spokesman Javier Lanari last Wednesday (18), reinforces Buenos Aires’ alignment with Washington and Israel and occurs despite military limitations and the population’s majority rejection of the conflict
“If the United States requests it, yes. Any help they consider will be given,” said Lanari in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Mundo.
The spokesperson’s speech came after a sequence of public positions by Milei himself in relation to Iran.
On March 9, during a speech at Yeshiva University, in New York, the president classified the country as an “enemy” of Argentina and linked his support to his strategic alliance with the United States and Israel.
Days later, when participating in the event marking the 34th anniversary of the attack on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, he once again reinforced this political axis and stated that “there can be no truce in the face of terrorism”.
The possibility of Argentine military involvement, although still conditional on a formal request from Washington, places for the first time a Latin American party in the context of the war of aggression that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel attacked Iranian territory even with ongoing negotiations.
Since then, Tehran began to respond militarily, expanding the conflict in the Middle East and leading the US government to seek support from allies to sustain the offensive.
To date, no European country has announced formal adherence to the war. Leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that the conflict “is not their war”, marking a difference in relation to the stance adopted by Buenos Aires.
The Argentine government has been reinforcing its alignment with Washington in recent months, participating in the so-called Shield of the Americas summit, held in Florida, and requesting, in 2024, the status of global partner of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The signaling of possible Argentine military support occurs in a scenario of economic crisis and structural restrictions.
Data released by consultancy Zuban Córdoba indicate that 72.7% of Argentines are against the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, while only 14.2% are in favor. Among Milei voters in the 2023 second round, the rejection is also majority, with 53.4% against the conflict.
In addition to popular rejection, the Argentine military apparatus itself faces limitations. Information from the Ministry of Defense indicates that the available fleet — consisting of three destroyers and six corvettes — is not in a position to carry out prolonged operations outside the national territory without technical risks, after years of budget restrictions and lack of maintenance.
Despite this, members of the government remain willing to contribute logistical support, planes or ships, if requested by the United States or Israel.
The Iranian government stated that Argentina crossed an “unforgivable red line” by aligning itself with the military offensive led by Washington and Tel Aviv.
In an article published by the Tehran Times newspaper, Tehran classified Milei’s statements as “insulting and hostile” and stated that it was preparing a “proportional response” to what it called Argentina’s change in stance on the international stage.
Source: vermelho.org.br
