Move Highlights Region’s Strategic Importance

The Argentine Minister of Defence, Jorge Taiana, has signed a resolution creating a joint military garrison in the province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands. Argentina’s ‘Land of Fire’ has great strategic value as well as tremendous national historical importance. To date, however, only the Argentine Navy has had a regional presence, with bases in Rio Grande and Ushuaia, as well as detachments across the main island and the Isla de los Estados.

The new military unit will receive troops from the Argentine Army, Navy and Air Force, each service making available to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces (EMCO) the resources and materials required for the establishment, instrumentation and development of the Joint Military Garrison. To this end, the Argentine Army will deploy a unit to the town of Tolhuin, the Navy will do the same in the new Integrated Naval Base now being built in the city of Ushuaia, while the Argentine Air Force will create an entirely new air base.

Since becoming Defence Minister, Taiana has continually highlighted the strategic importance of strengthening the military presence in the southern part of the country, and on power projection into Antarctica and the South Atlantic. Hence the creation of this new garrison adds to the latest MoD developments in Patagonia, including the installation of a surveillance radar in Rio Grande, the construction of the new Integrated Naval Base in Ushuaia and the opening of new LADE air bridges between Río Gallegos and Tierra del Fuego.

Santiago Rivas reporting from Buenos Aires for MON