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Argentine cooperative protests U.S. embassy pressure over Huawei deal
🇦🇷 Argentina /Culture & Society

Argentine cooperative protests U.S. embassy pressure over Huawei deal

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • An Argentine energy cooperative, CALF, formally protested alleged informal pressure from the U.S. embassy to revoke a data center deal with Chinese firm Huawei.
  • CALF sent a note to the U.S. ambassador and requested intervention from Argentina's foreign minister, arguing the U.S. used an inappropriate channel to convey its concerns.
  • The cooperative stated its network uses technology from multiple providers, including U.S. and European brands, and that Huawei was chosen for its quality, price, and financing.

The Provincial Cooperative of Public and Community Services of Neuquén (CALF) has formally protested alleged informal pressure from the U.S. embassy regarding a data center deal with Chinese firm Huawei. CALF, which operates Neuquén's electricity grid, sent a note to U.S. Ambassador Peter Lamelas and requested intervention from Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno.

One thing is the sovereign exercise of the United States' power to decide on its visas. Another is the invocation of its possible personal consequences, through an uninstitutional channel and before a worker without the faculties to unilaterally adopt the consulted decision.

— CALFIn a formal note to the U.S. ambassador, the cooperative explained its objection to the method of communication used by the embassy.

The cooperative argued that while the U.S. has the sovereign right to manage its visas, the embassy used an "uninstitutional channel" to pressure an employee without the authority to make such decisions. CALF stated that the embassy's actions were "improper."

Following a lack of response from the diplomatic mission, CALF escalated the issue to the Argentine Chancellery on August 4. The cooperative asked the foreign minister to demand that Washington channel any concerns about Argentine infrastructure through official diplomatic means.

The CALF network is not a Chinese network. It is a multi-provider network, chosen with technical, commercial, and service criteria.

— CALFIn a public statement, the cooperative defended its infrastructure choices against claims of exclusive alignment with Chinese technology.

CALF also issued a statement asserting its network is not exclusively Chinese but "multi-provider," featuring brands like HPE, APC, and Eaton from the U.S., alongside European companies. It explained that Huawei technology was selected for its "best combination of quality, price, and financing." The cooperative highlighted that Chinese technology is widely used by major Argentine telecommunications and energy companies without similar informal warnings, suggesting it received "singular treatment."

The best combination of quality, price, and financing.

— CALFThe cooperative explained its rationale for acquiring technology from Huawei.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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