US favors supplying Argentina with vintage F16s to counter Chinese influence and despite UK's objection

[Dalit]

US favors supplying Argentina with vintage F16s to counter Chinese influence and despite UK's objection​

Monday, January 2nd 2023 - 09:59 UTC

A leading US Navy think tank feels it is imperative for the US to pay close attention to the South Atlantic given China's growing trade, financial, investment influence in countries such as Argentina, and suggests a joint security cooperation investment with the UK, but especially overcoming an “outdated United Kingdom post-Falklands War security policy”

The Falklands War left a legacy beyond mere study of strategy, tactics, and long-distance logistics. Since 1982, the UK has substantially garrisoned the Falklands and placed an arms embargo on Argentina, which froze its military in the 1970s. This policy may have been appropriate during the Cold War, when a recessionary UK was forced to rely on the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to defend its South Atlantic territories, but it is now limiting present-day military capabilities in the region.

Argentina had a formidable military during the late 1970s, but the Falklands defeat led to massive underinvestment and a decrease in defense capabilities. Nevertheless UK continues to resist Argentine military modernization attempts. Hostility reached its peak in 2019 with the veto of Argentina’s purchase of FA-50 jets from South Korea because these aircraft have UK-manufactured Martin Baker ejection seats. Likewise with the Argentine navy and replacement of Super Etendards from France but similarly equipped.

The UK’s resistance to Argentine military modernization and advancement pushed Argentina into the hands of China. Argentina engaged with China in 2021 to evaluate Sino-Pakistani JF-17 fighters. .

But with U.S. help and UK cooperation, there is hope for Argentina. US offered surplus Danish F16/A/Bs to Colombia and Argentina in 2020 and is negotiating with the UK to approve the sale. Selling 1980s vintage F-16 A/Bs with modest modernization will strengthen Argentina’s military capabilities. Oversight of this venture is jointly shared by the State Department, U.S. Southern Command, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and the Secretary of the Air Force/International Affairs. The U.S. relationship with Argentina can ensure a measure of renewed prominence and a future generation of well-trained Argentine military aviators.

Argentina is one of many pieces to China’s plan for South America. China intends to develop a military base in Bata, Equatorial Guinea. Bata shares the same advantages Ascension did for the UK during the Falklands War. Closer Sino-Argentine cooperation will allow the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to impose higher defense costs on the UK to defend the Falklands, potentially drawing its nascent carrier strike and submarine force away from supporting U.S., NATO, and Indo-Pacific operations. Hence, the United States should convince the UK that it is time to reconsider its arms embargo with Argentina. A minor investment in a perceived tertiary theater can go a long way in closing the goalmouth to China, concludes the US Naval Institute report.

US favors supplying Argentina with vintage F16s to counter Chinese influence and despite UK's objection

A leading US Navy think tank feels it is imperative for the US to pay close attention to the South Atlantic given China's growing trade, financial, investment influence in countries such as Argentina, and suggests a joint security cooperation investment with the UK, but especially overcoming an...

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LOL beautiful. Now the Yanks are going to anger the Brits to satisfy their anti-China fetish. Nice. Really really nice.

It kinda reminds me of Pakistan situation LOL Anger India and handover F-16s to Pakistan as a token of gratitude.

 

[Trango Towers]

Hi,

After it supplies the F16's---the US can go back on its promise and may not deliver the needed weapons---.

The JF-17 BLK 3 and its weapons free the argentinian military of any restrictions on weapons supply or its usage---.

A bad bad mistake by the argentinians to go for the used F16's.

It also shows how strong the BLK 3 JF17 is and how desperately the US wanted to contain its sale---.

Would the Argentines be so foolish?
Will the Argentinean government deliberately handicap its own airforce?

 

[Dalit]

These are 1980s-era F-16A/B that are no threat to the Typhoons and the F-35Bs that the UK can deploy.

No big deal.

That is exactly why Argentina would be doing good by going for better fighters. It is obvious what the Americans are doing here.

1. Neutralising China.
2. Offering obsolete tech.
3. Trying to assure the Brits.

 

[MajesticPug]

If the Argentines want cheap or even free, get the F5's or Mig 21's. There are plenty of countries wanting to get rid of these.

LOL beautiful. Now the Yanks are going to anger the Brits to satisfy their anti-China fetish. Nice. Really really nice.

It kinda reminds me of Pakistan situation LOL Anger India and handover F-16s to Pakistan as a token of gratitude.

The only ones that get angered by the Americans are the Paks. Brits are not afraid of some old F16's that are being repainted for museum exhibits. Instead they go to the Argentines for an extortion. They can stay in that pit hole if the Argentines are that stupid. Of course, their military and political leaders could have been held captive by having scandal secrets held by the CIA's.. Y'know, that's the CIA's main job since the downfall of the Soviet Union.

 

[Dalit]

If the Argentines want cheap or even free, get the F5's or Mig 21's. There are plenty of countries wanting to get rid of these.



The only ones that get angered by the Americans are the Paks. Brits are not afraid of some old F16's that are being repainted for museum exhibits. Instead they go to the Argentines for an extortion. They can stay in that pit hole if the Argentines are that stupid. Of course, their military and political leaders could have been held captive by having scandal secrets held by the CIA's.. Y'know, that's the CIA's main job since the downfall of the Soviet Union.

So, we all agree. The F-16 relics are a shit deal for Argentina. No need to repeat that.

 

[Trango Towers]

That is exactly why Argentina would be doing good by going for better fighters. It is obvious what the Americans are doing here.

1. Neutralising China.
2. Offering obsolete tech.
3. Trying to assure the Brits.

But if you buy out the leadership. Americans win

 

[Dalit]

But if you buy out the leadership. Americans win

Let's see how smart or foolish the Argentineans are. They produce a Messi in football. Do they have a Messi in power corridors?

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

Remember France just shared the data of their Exocet anti-ship missiles with UK during the Malvinas war.

Argentina will always get backstabbed by those NATO countries.

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

China can donate free J-10C to Argentina as foreign aid to counter the Anglo proposal. Money is printed. China prints money.

 

[MajesticPug]

China can donate free J-10C to Argentina as foreign aid to counter the Anglo proposal. Money is printed. China prints money.

That's not going to happen. It's Uncle Sam that can print and have been printing money. Too bad you need some brains to see how this works.

 

[Jet_Jet]

For now, the evaluation of FC-1 has not been abandoned. But there is a lot of pressure from the US, and from the nations to which we owe money to, so that the FC-1 is not elected. For the FAA, the best option is the FC-1. Unofficially it is known that it meets all the technical requirements that were demanded. But the issue is political and not military.
The election will end up being political and maybe even the F-16s arrive. In Argentina everything goes through politics and, at this particular moment, there is a lot of dependence on complying with the IMF and the agencies to which money is owed. If Argentina chooses FC-1, it runs a great risk of compromising its sources of external financing. USA don´t want China in south america. Is that simple. And is using all his power to control the Argentinian Goverment and its decisions.

 

[Bilal9]

When it comes to containing China, UK is expendable.

Exactly - this is US payback to the Brits flouting US imposed sanctions and trade limitations with China.

But by now everyone is flouting US "lines in the sand"....

Let's see how smart or foolish the Argentineans are. They produce a Messi in football. Do they have a Messi in power corridors?

Their Peronista leaders may seem self-serving. But Argentinians are nowadays honored friends to Bangladeshis Thanks to Football madness common to both countries. I should not speak ill of them.

May they make the best decision to protect themselves by choosing the JF-17.

When you buy US weapons - it comes with a lot of strings, not so with the JF-17.

 

[Jet_Jet]

Exactly - this is US payback to the Brits flouting US imposed sanctions and trade limitations with China.

But by now everyone is flouting US "lines in the sand"....



Their Peronista leaders may seem self-serving. But Argentinians are nowadays honored friends to Bangladeshis Thanks to Football madness common to both countries. I should not speak ill of them.

It is not a question of selfishness. It's a question of money: the money we owe to the IMF and other creditors. This time we can not choose becouse of the money we owe, an not becouse of british embargo.

 

[PradoTLC]

And vice versa.

I don't think so.

US is clearly worried its sole power is being challenged. You are just trying to bring down a rising star

The question is, if Argentina gets US F16, will US ever supply parts of the fighters or allow them to be used against UK in case of conflict or war ? Are Argentinians joking want to get US fighters ?

of course not.

 

[gambit]

I don't think so.

US is clearly worried its sole power is being challenged. You are just trying to bring down a rising star

China modeled the PLA after US. China hired Americans across all industries to help rebuild their country. The CPC studied American politics. And I can go on...

So how is that not obsessing about US?