With a gesture marking his relationship with the United States, the Vice President Christina Kirchner Received a general in the Senate office Laura Jane Richardson, Commander of the United States Southern Command, who arrived in the country as part of a visit to the region. The former president shared the meeting on Twitter and stressed that it is a “Four stars in total” And said it is “The first woman to hold this position in history”.

Richardson joined the Senate after the Secretary of Defense received almost an hour and a half. Jorge TayanaWith whom he analyzed the bilateral relationship between governments in military matters Alberto Fernandez and Joe Biden. Both were evaluated, among other things, Common strategies for training officers and military equipmentExcept against cooperation is possible Natural Disasters And districts Cyber ​​Security and Climate Change.

A military commander who trained as a U.S. Army aviator and former commander of his country’s Northern Army Command, in October 2021, he took over as head of one of the United States Department of Defense’s Combat Commands. Aimed at ensuring security in the region. Among its first goals is the fight against drug trafficking.

The US Embassy also shared information about the meeting via Twitter. She noted that Richardson and Christina Kirchner discussed “the important role of women in maintaining peace and security in the region.”

While she retains signs of sympathy for China and Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Christina Kirchner Renewed gaze on Washington In late March, when he received the U.S. ambassador to his office, Mark Stanley. He asked “Cooperation” Under his country bill submitted to senators Frente de Todos to set up a fund to cancel debt to the IMF.

The gesture contradicts the historical image The North American military plane was delayed in February 2011 in Ezeiza. By order of then-Foreign Minister Hector Timerman, during Christina Kirchner’s first presidency. The U.S. Air Force plane was carrying instructors to train security personnel, and the minister instructed customs to pick up packed luggage.

The rift between the United States and the former president has emerged sharply in international politics over the past decade and a half. Jan. Memorandum with Iran Intended to attempt a fraudulent trial of those responsible for the AMIA bombing in Tehran, and Approaches to China and Russia -Probably more ideological than effective-, even defending regimes Nicolas Maduro In Venezuela and Daniel Ortega, In Nicaragua, except for the justification of Cuba.

Minister Taiana was satisfied with the meeting with General Richardson at the Libertadore building. “It was a productive bilateral meeting with the Commander of the Southern Command. [Laura] Richardson to address issues of common interest in defense cooperation“, – he said.

Arriving at the Libertadore headquarters of the Ministry, General Richardson was received on the stairs by an honorary guard led by the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Lieutenant General. Juan Martin Paleo.

After the meeting with the Minister, the head of the Southern Command A. business meeting At the Joint Staff, with the participation of Lieutenant-General Paleo.

Cooperation and tension

The U.S. embassy in New York said in a statement that Richardson and Taiana discussed “cooperation strategies in areas of common interest, such as responding to natural disasters, climate change and cybersecurity.”

Takes the look of Richardson’s visit Moment of tension on the international mapL, after the war between Russia and UkraineAgainst which governments Argentina and the United States did not have completely coincident positions. Months before the Russian invasion of Kiev, The Argentine government agreed to a Exchange With the Russian Armed Forces Argentine officers and non-commissioned officers to take training courses in Moscow military installations.

At the local military level, The Biden administration is monitoring China’s possible involvement Advances in building on the design of the Alberto Fernandez government project Antarctic Logistics Pole, A project air and naval base in Ushuaia that will become a strategic point on the route to Antarctica. The United States is also closely monitoring negotiations between Argentina and China for possible opportunities Purchase of military aircraft For the Air Force.

Taiana and Richardson discussed the next visit Frigate LibertyScheduled for the second week of July in the port of Baltimore as part of an instructional voyage carried out by a training ship of the Argentine Navy. Taiana also explained the basics of the National Defense Policy Directive (DPDN) approved by President Fernandez and the scope of the National Defense Fund (Fondef), which was set up to improve the re-equipment and modernization of the armed forces.

In addition, on the 40th anniversary of the war FalklandsMinister of Defense Reaffirmed Argentina’s sovereignty over the islands ი He called on the United Kingdom to end its restrictions on the military embargo and veto imposed on it since 1982..

The U.S. military commander attended a meeting with Ambassador Stanley. Taiana was accompanied by Secretary of Defense for International Affairs Francisco Cafeiro; Fernanda Lobett, Deputy Secretary for Strategic Planning and Military Policy; Roberto de Luiz, Deputy Secretary of State for International Affairs.

This is Richardson’s first visit to Argentina as military commander in the region, and the second mission the Pentagon has sent to the country. In April of the previous year, Admiral Craig S. FowlerRichardson’s predecessor visited the country for a similar purpose, which included support for a “joint effort to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.”

As Commander of the Southern Command, Richardson is responsible for Pentagon security cooperation with Central and South American and Caribbean countries and territories..

The meeting between Richardson and Taiana took place after the Secretary’s last visit. Gustavo BelizeIn Washington, where they were received Jake SullivanPresident Biden’s National Security Adviser. Also met John KerryTalk about the challenges of climate change and John Gonzalez, Responsible for relations with Latin America.