Photo: Mircea Geoana
Argentina has formally applied to join NATO as a global partner.
The status paves the way for greater political and security cooperation at a time when the right-wing government of President Javier Miley is trying to strengthen ties with Western powers and attract investments.
This became known when NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana held talks in Brussels on regional security challenges with Argentine Defense Minister Luis Petri, reports Associated Press.
Geoana said he welcomes Argentina's application to become an accredited partner of the alliance – a valuable role that is lower in status than that of an ally and does not require participation in collective military action.
The Argentine presidential administration said that this status will allow the country to gain access to advanced technologies, security systems and training that were previously unavailable to it.
"Argentina plays an important role in Latin America, – Geoana said at NATO headquarters. – Closer political and practical cooperation can benefit both of us.
Awarding NATO partner status requires the consensus of all 32 members of the alliance. Argentina's relations with key NATO member Britain have been unstable since 1982, when the two countries went to war over the disputed Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean.
The alliance's other global partners include Australia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand and Pakistan. Currently, NATO's only partner in Latin America is Colombia.
Giving a country the status of a global partner does not mean that NATO members will come to its defense in the event of an attack.
Prepared by: Sergei Daga< /p>