Hegseth hosts Argentinian Protection Minister at Pentagon as Argentina works to bolster protection relationship with U.S. – One America Information Community

[ad_1] <img decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://www.oann.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GettyImages-2222500137.webp" alt="US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (R) and Argentina's Defense Minister Luis Petri hold a signed agreement for the sell of M1126 Stryker vehicles to Argentina at the Pentagon in Washington, DC on July 2, 2025. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)" class="wp-image-689214" srcset="https://www.oann.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GettyImages-2222500137.webp 800w, https://www.oann.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GettyImages-2222500137-400x267.webp 400w, https://www.oann.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GettyImages-2222500137-768x512.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"/> US Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth (R) and Argentina’s Protection Minister Luis Petri maintain a signed settlement for the promote of M1126 Stryker autos to Argentina on the Pentagon in Washington, DC on July 2, 2025. (Picture by MANDEL NGAN/AFP through Getty Photos)

OAN Employees Abril Elfi and Brooke Mallory1:51 PM – Tuesday, July 2, 2025

United States Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted Argentinian Protection Minister Luis Petri on the Pentagon on Wednesday.

In keeping with Division of Protection (DoD), Hegseth, “who hosted an enhanced honor cordon and assembly” whereas welcoming Petri, eagerly introduced that Argentina and the USA will proceed to construct on their greater than 200-year relationship.

The U.S. protection secretary praised Argentina’s efforts to strengthen its protection alliance with the USA, highlighting Argentina’s request to buy a U.S. F-16 Combating Falcon and eight×8 Stryker armored autos.

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In the course of the assembly, Hegseth additionally emphasised that China not solely poses a menace to the U.S., however to Argentina as effectively.

China might be a strategic or financial menace to Argentina in a number of key areas, relying on the lens by means of which the connection is considered. Whereas China is a significant investor and commerce accomplice for Argentina, there are issues surrounding how this dynamic may undermine Argentina’s sovereignty, financial stability, or geopolitical alignment.

China has lent Argentina billions by means of loans, infrastructure initiatives, through the Belt and Highway Initiative, and foreign money swaps with the Individuals’s Financial institution of China. Many warn that this might result in “debt-trap diplomacy,” the place Argentina may face stress to align its insurance policies with Chinese language pursuits to take care of entry to credit score or keep away from default, in keeping with Reuters.

“Regional peace calls for the utmost will and tenacity, and I believe we are able to face these shared safety challenges collectively, and I do know we'll,” Hegseth acknowledged.

Moreover, whereas referring to the U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear websites in June, Petri expressed that Trump’s army transfer had elevated world peace.

“We're very a lot dedicated to the combat that the USA has taken on towards worldwide terrorism,” he stated.

Petri continued, sustaining that the bond between Argentina and the USA will grow to be even stronger.

“Our relationship is at its finest level, and our partnership will proceed to develop in all areas of presidency, however essentially in protection,” Petri stated.

The 2 leaders additionally exchanged historic accounts of army cooperation between their nations.

Hegseth famous that in 1811, throughout Argentina’s battle of independence from Spanish colonial rule, representatives of the revolutionary authorities in the USA bought 1,000 muskets and bayonets to help their trigger. He additionally highlighted Argentina’s contribution to coalition forces throughout the Gulf Warfare, when it deployed two warships in help.

Petri then chimed in on the historical past dialogue to focus on how throughout the 1879 Conquest of the Desert, a marketing campaign that aimed to develop Argentinian management over Patagonia, the federal government acquired 10,000 rifles from the USA, a switch that performed a pivotal function in strengthening its army marketing campaign.

X video – English translation: Protection Minister Luis Petri signed an settlement with Trump’s Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth for the acquisition of 8×8 Stryker armored autos for the Argentine Military: “Argentina is investing in protection once more and modernizing its Armed Forces.”

🚨🇦🇷🇺🇸 | #AHORA El Ministro de Defensa Luis Petri firmó junto al Secretario de Defensa de Trump Pete Hegseth un acuerdo para la la adquisición de vehículos blindados 8×8 Stryker para el Ejército Argentino: "Argentina vuelve a invertir en defensa y moderniza sus Fuerzas Armadas". pic.twitter.com/lrQRSf62Jc