One of the most important patrol vessels of the United States Coast Guard will arrive in Argentina between April 29 and May 3, but will not be able to carry out joint exercises with the Naval Prefecture because Congress did not sanction the Bases Law, promoted by the Presidency of Javier Milei.
The USCGC James (WMSL-754) is the fifth Legend-class cutter of the US Coast Guard and will dock in the port of Buenos Aires , although it will only be able to carry out protocol activities. It is because the regulations sent by the Government to Parliament to authorize the entry and exit of foreign troops from the national territory were not approved .
The presence of this North American vessel was justified within the framework of the fight against drug trafficking and illegal fishing , taking into account the permanent activities of a large Chinese fleet of illegal fishing vessels in Argentine waters of the South Atlantic.
Added to this is the growing geopolitical tension between the US and China , even regarding current projects within the continental territory, such as the operation of the Asian country's Space Observation Station in Neuquén .
The arrival of the coast guard is a flagrant interference in Argentine policies regarding the sovereign protection of the national maritime area and a demonstration of how the US reinforces its behavior as the gendarme of the world . In this case, coming to patrol fishing areas where there is disproportionate exploitation by the Chinese, Taiwanese, Spanish and Korean flag fleet ; in the South Atlantic, on the edge of the Argentine EEZ, mile 200.
Prior to what will be the arrival of the USCGC patrol vessel James , North American officials visited the country and generated political repercussions for agreements where an obsequent transfer of sovereignty by Argentina is proposed, among them the announcement of the construction of an Integrated Naval Base in Ushuaia with United States intervention.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, CIA Director William Burns, Southern Command Chief Laura Richardson and Ambassador Marc Stanley held meetings with national officials since the beginning of the year and questioned the activities of China in the region.
The “Omnibus Law” that Milei originally presented to Congress proposed the authorization of the entry of foreign troops to participate in the “Combined Training for the Defense of Argentine Fishing Resources” , referring to the joint exercise between the Naval Prefecture and the coast guard. USCG James.
However, the rule was not sanctioned and now the Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich , is preparing a decree to allow the arrival of the foreign vessel for the sole purpose of protocol acts .
In 2021 , during the Kirchner administration, the Foreign Ministry had rejected carrying out a joint operation between the Prefecture and the North American Coast Guard, and in that case the USSCG Stone patrol boat docked in Puerto Madryn but only for the provision of fuel, water and food.
Two years later, in February 2023 , the Stone ship was also unable to dock in Mar del Plata within the framework of the operation titled “Cruz del Sur”, patrolling through South America, but on this occasion it once again included a stopover in Puerto Madryn.
Months later, in December of last year, the governor of Chubut, Ignacio Torres (PRO) , after a meeting with Ambassador Marc Stanley announced that an agreement is being explored with the United States for North American ships to patrol the Argentine coast with the objective to combat illegal fishing by a fleet mostly from China.
