The Argentine government authorized Brazilian naval forces to enter the country’s waters on Monday to take part in a joint military exercise beginning this week. The development comes amid one of the worst diplomatic crises between the two governments in recent history.
Last week, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva decided to remove its ambassador in Buenos Aires in response to insults from his Argentine counterpart, Javier Milei. The libertarian economist had repeatedly attacked the Brazilian leader, calling him a “corrupt” and “thief” and later referring to him as a “convict.”
Despite the row, the Argentine government approved the entry of Brazilian Navy personnel and equipment into its territorial waters from August 10 to 24, under a decree published in the Official Gazette on Thursday.
The Fraterno XXXIX is a longstanding bilateral exercise involving the two countries’ armed forces. The operation’s main activities begin on August 13 at the Puerto Belgrano and Mar del Plata naval bases and in the South Atlantic.
The traditional join exercise takes place this year amid an escalating diplomatic confrontation between Milei and Lula.
A military relationship that outlasts political disputes
Fraterno is not a new initiative. The exercise has been held annually since 1978. According to the Argentine government, the goal is “to increase combined training and interoperability in naval, air, and amphibious operations,” as well as to standardize planning and execution procedures.
The Argentine government argues that cancelling participation would significantly damage the country’s ability to train in complex combined operations with Brazil.
This year’s exercise will also carry a notable Brazilian naval deployment. Brazil is expected to send the submarine Humaitá, commissioned in 2024, for what will be its first international deployment in Argentine waters.
Surface ships, aircraft, and submarines from both countries will take part.
Other joint exercises
The same decree also authorizes Argentine forces to participate in other exercises with Chile and Peru, reflecting a broader effort to maintain naval training and regional interoperability.
The Viekaren XXVI exercise, with Chile, will take place between August 24 and 28 in the waters of the Beagle Channel, near Puerto Williams, in the neighboring country.
The activity has been carried out every year since 1999 and is aimed at strengthening interoperability between both navies, in addition to tasks related to maritime traffic control and search and rescue operations in the southern area.
Finally, Argentine forces will deploy to Peru between August 14 and October 14 to participate in the Siforex XIV and Unitas LXVII exercises, scheduled for September in Peruvian jurisdictional waters and in the port of Callao.
The government justified the use of a decree to authorize all the exercises by arguing that Congress had not acted in time on legislation authorizing the entry of foreign troops and the deployment of Argentine forces abroad.
