Milei announces integrated naval base in Tierra del Fuego during Malvinas address

Javier Milei announced the creation of an integrated naval base in Tierra del Fuego, presenting it as part of a broader effort to tighten Argentina’s control over unauthorized oil exploitation around the Falkland Islands and extend the country’s “geopolitical projection.”

Speaking in a national broadcast focused on the Malvinas, the Argentine president said his government would immediately sign a decree of necessity and urgency to expand Defense Ministry resources. The priority, he said, would be construction of the naval base and an increase in Argentina’s telecommunications capabilities.

Milei said the facility would turn Argentina into “the most important logistical hub in the South Atlantic” and play a central role in the country’s geopolitical reach. He also said he would urgently send Congress a bill on the defense of national sovereignty.

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The base will turn the country into the most important logistical hub in the South Atlantic and will be fundamental to Argentina’s geopolitical projection.

The proposed legislation would amend Law 26,659 to increase sanctions and penalties for companies involved in unauthorized operations. Suppliers working on those projects would face the same penalties and prohibitions as the companies they support. Violators would be barred from contracting in Argentina with either public or private entities, and trials in absentia could be used where appropriate. Milei said the rules would also cover other island activities affecting Argentina’s natural resources.

The bill would create a National Security Council tasked with setting a mandatory, cross-government security policy involving the Foreign Ministry, Defense, intelligence and the Economy Ministry. It would also establish protections for critical infrastructure and Argentina’s aerospace and maritime domains. Milei said he would seek powers allowing the state to respond through economic and diplomatic tools to state or non-state actors that threaten national security.

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We will sign today a Decree of Necessity and Urgency to expand the resources of the Ministry of Defense, with the priority of building an integrated naval base in Tierra del Fuego and increasing our telecommunications capabilities.