Tierra del Fuego Governor Gustavo Melella questioned Vice President Victoria Villarruel's latest announcement about the construction of an Integrated Naval Base in Ushuaia with U.S. participation.
During the main event for April 2nd, commemorating those killed in the Malvinas Islands, Villarruel reiterated the Argentine government's intention to establish an Antarctic Logistics Hub with U.S. support . This was harshly criticized by Governor Melella, who said he would voice his opposition at the meeting the two officials held minutes later in the capital of Tierra del Fuego.
However, in the press releases about the formal meeting held at the Tierra del Fuego Government House, the provincial authorities made no mention of the issue.
After Villarruel insisted on the construction of an Integrated Naval Base with US participation, Melella maintained that "it has to be Argentine; there can't be any foreign presence on our base, and I'm going to tell you that now, especially not from the United States, which is a NATO partner." "I don't understand it, and I don't accept it," the president added.
"I echo what the vice president said about the union of America, of Latin America, of the great homeland, where we are with Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, from Mexico on down," the president explained. "The United States is a founder of NATO; so, if you have the United States, you have NATO here, because they will care more about NATO than Argentina itself."
On the other hand, Melella criticized President Javier Milei's statements regarding the self-determination of the Kelpers , a people settled by the British usurpers. " What the president said is truly incredible. I don't know who advises him internationally, but there's no room here for this discussion about the islanders, who live illegally and illegitimately, being able to decide their future ," the governor remarked.
" They have to leave. That land belongs to Argentina. Argentines were expelled at the time, and they are now implanted. So what the president of the nation said is in no way acceptable ," Melella concluded.