Arya News - Argentina is in talks with Britain to lift a weapons ban that could allow the South American country to purchase state-of-the-art military technology.
Argentina is in talks with Britain to lift a weapons ban that could allow the South American country to purchase state-of-the-art military technology.
Javier Milei, Argentina’s president, told The Telegraph that negotiations had begun on overhauling restrictions that had held his military back since the Falklands War .
“There are no world powers without military power,” he said. “There is no country that counts in the international context if they can’t defend their borders.”
Strict UK export rules restrict any weapon with British components from being sold to Argentina if it “enhances” the country’s military – an effective blanket ban on Western arms sales.
A lobbying effort is now under way from Argentina and the US to change the rules. Asked directly if negotiations had begun on relaxing the British veto, Mr Milei replied: “Absolutely.”
The Telegraph can reveal that Mr Milei is set to become the first Argentinian president to visit Britain since 1998.
He said he would travel to the UK in April or May next year and would like to meet Sir Keir Starmer, as well opposition leaders, including Nigel Farage . He also invited Sir Keir to Buenos Aires for an official visit.
Mr Milei insisted that the Falklands Islands would be returned to Argentina through diplomatic means – a departure from his more hardline predecessors.
He said: “Since I consider that the solution is to be sought through peaceful and diplomatic solutions, I think that the best way to show the willingness on the part of Argentina is to show that we also have a commercially adult relationship.”
He said negotiations over the lifting of a British ban on specific weapons components had been delegated to his defence minister “according to what he thinks needs to be removed in terms of restrictions”, adding: “Whatever can be done to improve trade, I will do, taking the geopolitical risks into consideration.”
Argentinian soldiers perform during a military parade - Anadolu
British government policy currently states that the UK should “refuse licences for export and trade of goods judged to enhance Argentine military capability”. But relations between Buenos Aires and London have been improving since Mr Milei, a libertarian economist, took power in 2023 .
The US has also played a role in mediating discussions on defence between Britain and Argentina, sources told The Telegraph. Donald Trump, a “buddy” of Mr Milei , sees Argentina as an important bulwark against China and Russia in the South Atlantic and Antarctica, analysts said.
F-16 fighter jets were delivered to Argentina from Denmark on Saturday under a deal approved by Mr Trump. But many other weapons from around the world are still blocked by Britain, which supplies key components.
Mr Milei told The Telegraph he was aligning with the US and Israel internationally.
“There is a bloc that is China and its satellites. There is another one that is Russia and its satellites. And there is another that’s the US, trying to ensure that their influence area – their bloc of satellites – is all of the American continent,” he said.
The Trump administration published its new national security strategy earlier this week, including plans to increase security in the Americas and the “Western Hemisphere”.
Mr Milei did not rule out a full military alliance with Britain as part of rapidly warming relations, but cautioned that it “depends on the enemy”.
One Argentinian official close to the talks with Britain said the country’s military was in “really bad shape” because of the weapons ban.
“We need everything to modernise our military in every single component – not just the air but also the navy,” the official said, adding that lifting the ban would allow Argentina to be “part of the same strategic network” as the UK and the West again.
Mr Milei said he would seek an audience with Sir Keir when he came to the UK. He added that he would “absolutely” like to meet Mr Farage, who he praised for his “vision” on Brexit. “It would be a visit I would learn a lot from,” he said.
The president’s “shock therapy” economic policies have slashed the deficit in Argentina and halted inflation, but at a heavy cost to jobs and domestic industry. He has attempted to draw a line under years of Leftist rule, and recently made significant gains in midterm elections .
Mr Milei has pledged to boost military spending and also altered Argentina’s position on the Falklands , at times sparking controversy at home. On Veterans’ Day in April, marking 43 years since the war with Britain, he reiterated that the people of the islands should choose their own nationality.
He told The Telegraph: “There’s no way I would give up on or relinquish territory, but it is clear that individuals will end up voting with their feet. And if you replicate such living conditions that will ensure high standards of living for them, it may well be they are more willing to recognise that territory as Argentine.”
A Downing Street spokesman denied that there were “specific” talks on relaxing export controls. However, The Telegraph understands that defence talks have taken place this year and more are planned for 2026.
A Government spokesman said: “Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands is not up for negotiation, and we will defend its right of self-determination. In 2013, the islanders held a referendum on their future, with an overwhelming majority choosing to remain part of the UK.
“There are no specific talks with Argentina about the UK relaxing its arms export controls. More broadly, we look forward to deepening our co-operation with Argentina across areas including trade, science and culture to deliver growth for the British people.”
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