The news channel TN, part of the Clarín Group, a media outlet completely aligned with the Javier Milei government, has published information that directly contradicts recent statements by Defense Minister Luis Petri . While just a few hours ago, Petri denied the existence of an agreement for a joint naval base in Ushuaia, TN claims that the "fine print" of the financial agreement with the US Treasury does include a military counterpart: the presence of US forces in Argentina.

This rapidly developing information, where the negotiation is for financial oxygen so that the electoral defeat on October 26th won't be so scandalous , exposes the tension and contradictions within the libertarian regime itself. Luis Petri, who is also a candidate for national deputy for Mendoza , had attempted to downplay the controversy over what is clearly a transfer of sovereignty, asserting from New York that there was no "joint naval base project." However, the TN leak invalidates his position and reveals the depth of the negotiations underway .

According to TN , Milei is willing to "analyze the presence of US forces in Ushuaia," an area of high geopolitical sensitivity due to its proximity to Antarctica and its relevance to the sovereignty dispute over the Malvina Islands.

The news report mentions that this presence would be in exchange for a crucial loan to cover debt payments of more than $8.5 billion in 2026. This arrangement, which the outlet compares to the Rota Naval Base in Spain , involves the transfer of a portion of the territory for the exclusive use of US military forces.

Rota Naval Base is located in southwestern Spain, near the city of Cádiz, and is a strategic facility used by both the Spanish and U.S. Navy. Under a bilateral agreement, part of the base is under the control and operation of U.S. forces, serving as a key port for their naval operations in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. This "mode of operation" is based on a pact that allows the U.S. to maintain a stable military presence in a foreign territory without having a completely independent base.

The background to this negotiation is the global conflict between Washington and Beijing . TN's source at the Casa Rosada is explicit: "The agreement entails countering Chinese interference in the territory." This is a central point on the agenda of the Southern Command, whose chief, Alvin Holsey, has expressed interest in a base that would allow for the supply and maintenance of the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarines, as well as the US Navy's nuclear-powered vessels . The TN article also reveals that the US is pushing for the cancellation of the currency swap with China and the closure of Chinese-financed projects in the country, such as the Radio Telescope in San Juan.

The information from the main television channel of the Clarín corporation not only refutes Petri's claims, but also puts the Milei government in an awkward position, which is forced to justify a negotiation that absolutely compromises national sovereignty . The government is seeking NATO membership at all costs and, to that end, is aligning itself with the US military agenda by acquiring F-16 aircraft and armored vehicles. However, these decisions are and will continue to be the subject of intense debate.

The Antarctic expansion and control of the Drake Passage are presented by TN as the focal points of the negotiations . The objective would be to strengthen the alliance with the US to "counteract the British and Chilean presence." However, this argument is completely contestable, since the United States is Britain's main ally in the South Atlantic and has maintained its support for British colonialism in the Malvinas.

In a span of hours, the official narrative has taken a 180-degree turn, confirming what analysts had been pointing out: the Milei administration's rapprochement with Washington comes at a very high cost in terms of sovereignty.

Petri's statements turned out to be a smokescreen, and TN's revelation has exposed the fine print of an agreement that, if finalized, could redefine Argentina's role on the geopolitical stage and jeopardize its long-standing foreign policy of defending sovereignty in the far south of the continent . History, as we all know, never ends.