Milei visits US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz during Argentina-US joint naval drills

President Javier Milei travelled to Mar del Plata on Thursday to observe joint Argentine-US naval exercises in the South Atlantic, granting his direct approval for the latest sign of geopolitical alignment with Washington.

Argentina’s Navy is carrying out the manoeuvres alongside US forces as part of the wider “Southern Seas 2026” operation coordinated by US Southern Command, the US Embassy and the Argentine Navy, the Defence Ministry in Buenos Aires said on Tuesday.

The drills, which run until Thursday, are taking place within Argentina’s exclusive economic zone following the passage of the US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and the destroyer USS Gridley. The entry of both vessels was authorised by Milei by decree earlier this month.

The Nimitz, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and one of the largest in the US fleet, entered Argentine waters after crossing the Strait of Magellan and has been operating in the Argentine Sea since the weekend.

The exercises are being conducted within the framework of “Passex 2026” – a standard operation held when a foreign warship transits Argentina’s coastline – and include search-and-rescue, defence and attack manoeuvres in maritime scenarios as the carrier continues its route north along the Argentine coast. 

Operations involve F/A-18 fighter jets, MH-60 Seahawk helicopters and naval units, generally off the coasts of Mar del Plata and Necochea.

Officials have described the drills as among the most significant joint exercises in decades, aimed at improving interoperability, tactical co-ordination and standardised procedures between the two militaries.

Milei travelled aboard a US Grumman C-2 Greyhound transport aircraft operating to and from USS Nimitz’s deck. His visit coincided with an aerial display on the final day of exercises.

Also travelling with President Milei were Lower House Speaker Martín Menem, Defence Minister Carlos Presti; the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marcelo Dalle Nogare and the Chief of the Navy, Juan Carlos Romay.

Argentine officers are also embarked on the carrier as part of a multinational staff coordinating tactics and procedures.

Separately, Milei’s government authorised the entry of US Armed Forces personnel and equipment for the joint exercise “Atlantic Dagger”, a training operation that began on 21 April and is scheduled to continue until 12 June, according to a pre-announced timetable.

That training involves the Puerto Belgrano naval base, the VII Air Brigade in Moreno, both in Buenos Aires Province, and the Córdoba military garrison.

Argentine naval units, including the destroyer ARA La Argentina and the corvette ARA Rosales, as well as additional vessels deployed from Puerto Belgrano, are taking part in the exercises.

– TIMES/AFP/PERFIL