In a context of growing strategic interest of the United States in the region, the announced visit of Admiral Alvin Holsey, commander of the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) , this Wednesday to Ushuaia , raises alarms about the military ambitions of the North American country in Patagonia. Even more so when, in the last hours, different media outlets in the southern province indicate that the US military officer requested that President Javier Milei permanently reactivate the LeoLabs radar, capable of tracking war targets, installed by its British and Irish subsidiaries near the municipality of Tolhuin.
The presence of the high-ranking official in Tierra del Fuego , within the framework of a tour that included high-level meetings in Buenos Aires , seems to take a further step in the project of installing an integrated Naval Base for Antarctic development with US participation , as announced by Javier Milei in April 2024 , and despite subsequent denials by the US government .
From various academic and analytical quarters, the news takes on a new level of seriousness. Luciano Anzelini, a doctor in Social Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires and a master's degree in International Studies from Torcuato Di Tella University , points out that the visit confirms that the project for a shared military base in Ushuaia "is serious" for the Pentagon's interests .
“ If you look at the strategic documents developed in recent years by the United States, especially by the Pentagon and intelligence agencies, you see that regions like the Arctic and Antarctica have acquired unprecedented importance on the US military agenda ,” says Anzelini .
The specialist emphasizes that Washington is not only looking toward the South Pole for scientific or environmental control reasons , but also within an increasingly complex geopolitical framework.
" The South Atlantic, the Antarctic projection, and the bi-oceanic nature of the region take on significant strategic relevance in the global dispute between the U.S. and China. Beijing's expansive presence in the Southern Cone is a source of deep concern in Washington ," he adds.
Critical analysis is not limited solely to the interests of the United States , but also to the attitude of the Argentine government . For Anzelini , the view of the Latin American region as a stage for competition between powers is poorly addressed by national authorities.
“ The United States' interest in the South Atlantic has been increasing, and the Argentine government's response has been subordinated to economic needs, without much reflection on the geopolitical implications ,” he warns.
The logic of alignment with Washington , he argues, could jeopardize regional sovereignty and the response capacity of South American countries in this area.
On the eve of his visit to the Ushuaia Naval Base , Holsey was received in Buenos Aires by senior military and diplomatic officials, and held meetings with the Minister of Defense, Luis Petri; the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Xavier Isaac ; and was received at the Casa Rosada by President Javier Milei himself.
The political decision, according to official sources , responds to the quest to " deepen and expand strategic cooperation " between Washington and Buenos Aires . However, this rapprochement seeks to translate into a greater U.S. military presence in the region , with objectives that transcend diplomatic or scientific cooperation .
The story of US interest in establishing military bases in Patagonia is not new . For decades, various US governments have expressed interest in the region due to its strategic potential in terms of maritime, military, and natural resource control.
The difficulty has always been the reaction of Latin American countries and the local political uncertainty regarding a foreign military presence in areas as sensitive as Ushuaia.
The focus on the new joint naval base , which would include active participation by the Pentagon and Southern Command , has drawn criticism because it opens the door to a possible formalization of a military presence in an area of high political sensitivity .
Patagonia not only has strategic value , but also represents a symbol of sovereignty for Argentina , which in recent years has seen increasing concern about the proliferation of external interests in its territory.
For now, official statements in Buenos Aires insist that everything is part of " strategic cooperation " and that no firm decisions have been made.
However, the US government 's moves and statements, along with the Pentagon 's tendency to consolidate its presence in key regions, cast doubt on whether these words will be enough to reassure public opinion.
The military presence in Ushuaia , far from being merely an act of international cooperation, appears to consolidate a hegemonic position that could limit Argentina's decision-making capacity in the face of international tensions or maritime disputes in that key area.
At a time when international dynamics are being redefined by the clashes between the United States and China , and where the South Atlantic region is becoming a strategic arena of dispute, the country must assess whether to allow an expansion of foreign military presence in its territory or whether to maintain a position of full autonomy and sovereignty .
Washington's interest in Ushuaia goes beyond mere cooperation . The base, which aims to strengthen Argentina's presence in the southern tip of the continent, also carries with it an agenda of geostrategic control that extends to maritime routes, surveillance , and the exploitation of natural resources in the area.
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