Politics · 2026-10-20 · Morning briefing

Argentina's military spending hits US$445m under Milei

Argentina’s government has spent US$445 million on military and security equipment since President Javier Milei took office in December 2023. The sum, covering the period to August 2026, already exceeds the total military procurement spending during the full presidential terms of his immediate predecessors, Alberto Fernández and Mauricio Macri.

The largest single purchase was 24 F-16 fighter jets from Denmark for US$301.2 million, an acquisition that restores Argentina's supersonic combat capability, which it lost in 2015. Other significant deals include four P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft from Norway for US$60 million and eight Stryker armoured vehicles from the United States for US$20 million, with a letter of intent for up to 235 more.

An analysis by the newspaper Infobae shows the spending under Milei has already surpassed the US$428.7 million spent during Fernández's entire four-year term and dwarfs the US$72 million spent under Macri. Of the total, US$381.4 million was allocated to the armed forces and US$63.7 million to federal security forces.

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• Argentina classifies new military equipment purchase as secret
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