US military personnel in Argentina: Milei authorizes their landing by decree, sparking a new controversy.

The government of Javier Milei has given the green light to the entry of US military personnel into the country for joint exercises. The measure, made official this Tuesday through a Decree of Necessity and Urgency (DNU) published in the Official Gazette, authorizes the presence of approximately 30 US Army personnel for a period of 27 days, between October 20 and November 15. The decision, however, has already raised political fire by circumventing the mandatory review and approval of Congress, a constitutional requirement for allowing the entry of foreign troops.

Decree 697/2025, signed by the president and his cabinet, details that U.S. Armed Forces personnel and resources will operate at strategic points within the Argentine Navy. The naval bases of Mar del Plata, Puerto Belgrano in Punta Alta, and Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego will be the epicenters of these joint maneuvers, which will also include "spaces designated for maritime and land military training" under national jurisdiction. This deployment is part of a growing geopolitical and defense alignment with Washington, one of the cornerstones of the libertarian administration's foreign policy.

A decree that bypasses Congress

The main controversy lies not in the execution of the exercises themselves, a relatively common practice among the armed forces of allied countries, but in the legal instrument used to authorize them. The Argentine Constitution establishes in Article 75, paragraph 28, that it is the exclusive power of Congress to "allow the introduction of foreign troops into the territory of the Nation, or the departure of national forces from it." By resorting to a DNU, the Executive Branch assumes legislative authority, citing reasons of urgency that, according to the opposition, would not be duly justified in this case.

Criticism and possible calls for an interpellation in Parliament are already being anticipated from various opposition groups. They maintain that there is no unforeseen emergency that prevents the normal institutional procedures from being followed, which would involve submitting a bill for debate and vote in both chambers. Milei's decision is interpreted as a further gesture of centralization of power and disdain for the role of the legislature, a tension that has marked the first months of her term. The entry of US military personnel through this route sets a precedent that could be used in the future, weakening Republican control over an area as sensitive as national defense and sovereignty.

US Military: The Details of the Exercises

According to the official text, the objective of the mission, called the "Special Forces Exchange Exercise," is to strengthen interoperability between the troops of both countries. The decree specifies that the purpose is "to exchange training procedures, techniques, and tactics between Special Forces to operate in complex scenarios that require multinational coordination, immediate response capacity, and the effective use of advanced technologies." In this regard, it highlights "the innovative doctrinal and technical contribution of the United States Navy," suggesting a focus on modernizing and updating the capabilities of the Argentine forces.

Although the number of troops is small—approximately 30 marines, according to reports—their specialization is highly specialized. These are elite units, trained for unconventional missions, reconnaissance, and direct action. The choice of the naval bases in Mar del Plata, Puerto Belgrano, and especially Ushuaia, is no coincidence. The latter, due to its strategic location as the gateway to Antarctica and the bioceanic passage, is a point of enormous geopolitical value, and the presence of US military personnel in the area is a clear message of strategic alignment with the White House in the South Atlantic.

Total alignment with Washington

This military move cannot be analyzed in isolation. It occurs within a context of fine-tuned and explicit harmonization between Javier Milei and his American counterpart, Donald Trump. In fact, the publication of the decree coincided with the announcement of a new meeting between the two leaders, scheduled for October 14 in Washington, amid the campaign for Argentina's legislative and municipal elections. The personal and political relationship between the two leaders is a key factor explaining the depth and speed of this bilateral rapprochement.

Just a week ago, during a meeting in New York, Trump had offered his "complete and total" support for Milei's reelection, calling him a "very good friend." At that time, the US president blamed the previous administration of Joe Biden for the "total disaster" that, according to him, Milei inherited, and praised its administration for having "restored stability to the Argentine economy." This political backing is complemented by strong financial support. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that his Department "is willing to do whatever is necessary" to support the country, putting "all stabilization options on the table." Among them, he mentioned high-impact tools such as swap lines, direct purchases of foreign currency, and even the acquisition of Argentine government debt. The arrival of the military , therefore, is one more piece in a puzzle that intertwines defense, politics, and the economy, consolidating Argentina as the United States' main strategic partner in the region.