FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Argentina's foreign policy priorities are focused on increasing regional partnerships, including expanding the MERCOSUR regional trade bloc by integrating Venezuela as a new full member. Argentina has played a positive role in promoting human rights and democratic institutions in the hemisphere, particularly in Haiti. Argentina currently has nearly 600 peacekeeping troops in Haiti in support of MINUSTAH, reflecting its traditionally strong support of UN peacekeeping operations. As a member of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Argentina has been a strong voice in support of nuclear non-proliferation issues.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The president and a civilian minister of defense control the Argentine armed forces. The Interior Ministry controls the paramilitary Gendarmeria (border police), the Federal Police, the Prefectura Naval (coast guard), and the Airport Security Police. The Argentine armed forces maintain close defense cooperation and military supply relationships with the United States. Other countries also have military relationships with the Argentine forces, principally Israel, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Chile, and Venezuela.
The current Minister of Defense has pursued an aggressive restructuring program based on the Argentine 1988 defense law. Priorities include emphasis on joint operations and peacekeeping. There has been minimal recapitalization due to budget constraints experienced over the past 5 years.
U.S.-ARGENTINE
RELATIONS
The U.S. has a positive bilateral relationship with Argentina based on many common strategic interests, including non-proliferation, counternarcotics, counterterrorism, the fight against human trafficking, and issues of regional stability, as well as the strength of commercial ties. Argentina is a participant in the Three-Plus-One regional mechanism (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and the U.S.), which focuses on coordination of counter-terrorism policies in the tri-border region. Argentina has endorsed the Proliferation Security Initiative, and has implemented the Container Security Initiative and the Trade Transparency Unit, both of which are programs administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Container Security Initiative provides for the selective scanning of shipping containers to identify weapons of mass destruction components, and the Trade Transparency Unit works jointly with Argentine Customs to identify trade-based money laundering. In 2004, Argentina signed a Letter of Agreement with the Department of State opening the way for enhanced cooperation with the U.S. on counternarcotics issues and enabling the U.S. to begin providing financial assistance to the Government of Argentina for its counternarcotics efforts. In recognition of its contributions to international security and peacekeeping, the U.S. Government designated Argentina as a major non-NATO ally in January 1998. The Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Argentine Ministry of Defense hold an annual Bilateral Working Group Meeting, alternating between Argentina and Washington, D.C. Furthermore, both nations exchange information through alternating annual Joint Staff Talks, military educational exchanges, and operational officer exchange billets.
U.S.-Argentine cooperation also includes science and technology initiatives in
the fields of space, peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and the environment. In
June 2007, the U.S. and Argentina modernized a bilateral civil aviation
agreement to update safety and security safeguards and allow a significant
increase in flight frequencies between the two countries, which hold excellent
potential for increased tourism and business travel. An active media, together
with widespread interest in American culture and society, make Argentina a
receptive environment for the information and cultural exchange work of the U.S.
Embassy. The Fulbright scholarship program has more than tripled the annual
number of U.S. and Argentine academic grantees since 1994, and the U.S. Embassy
is actively working to increase other education exchanges.
U.S. Embassy Functions
The U.S. Mission in Buenos Aires carries out the traditional diplomatic function
of representing the U.S. Government and people in discussions with the Argentine
Government, and more generally, in relations with the people of Argentina. The
Embassy is focused on increasing people-to-people contacts, and promoting
outreach and exchanges on a wide range of issues. Political, economic, and
science officers deal directly with the Argentine Government in advancing U.S.
interests but are also available to brief U.S. citizens on general conditions in
the country. Officers from the U.S. Foreign Service, Foreign Commercial Service,
and Foreign Agricultural Service work closely with the hundreds of U.S.
companies that do business in Argentina, providing information on Argentine
trade and industry regulations and assisting U.S. companies starting or
maintaining business ventures in Argentina.
The Embassy's Consular Section monitors the welfare and whereabouts of more than
20,000 U.S. citizen residents of Argentina and more than 250,000 U.S. tourists
each year. Consular personnel also provide American citizens passport, voting,
notary, Social Security, and other services. With the end of Argentine
participation in the visa waiver program in February 2002, Argentine tourists,
students, and those who seek to work in the United States must have nonimmigrant
visas. The Consular Section processes nonimmigrant visa applications for persons
who wish to visit the United States for tourism, studies, temporary work, or
other purposes, and immigrant visas for persons who qualify to make the United
States a permanent home.
Attaches accredited to Argentina from the Department of Justice (including the
Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation), the
Department of Homeland Security (including Immigration and Customs Enforcement,
and Customs and Border Protection), the Federal Aviation Administration, and
other federal agencies work closely with Argentine counterparts on international
law enforcement cooperation, aviation security, and other issues of concern. The
Department of Defense is represented by the U.S. Military Group and the Defense
Attache Office. These organizations ensure close military-to-military contacts,
and defense and security cooperation with the armed forces of Argentina.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--E. Anthony Wayne
Deputy Chief of Mission--Thomas Kelly
Political Counselor--Alex Featherstone
Economic Counselor--Douglas Climan
Commercial Counselor--Brian Brisson
Consul General--Susan Abeyta
The U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is located at 4300 Colombia Avenue in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires. Mission offices can be reached at by phone at (54)(11) 5777-4533/34 or by fax at (54)(11) 5777-4240. Mailing addresses: U.S. Embassy Buenos Aires, APO AA 34034; or 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
