Argentina plans to start construction of a naval base in the southern Malvinas Islands.
On September 12 local time, Argentine Defense Minister Carlos Presti announced plans to establish a naval military base in Ushuaia, the southernmost city of the country, near the Falkland Islands, in January next year.
Presti stated that the military base will begin construction on January 2 after a public tender, and it will belong to the Argentine Navy, equipped with submarines, Marine Corps, and naval aviation. It will serve as a "logistics hub" connecting Argentina's seven permanent bases and six temporary bases in Antarctica, holding "strategic value" for Argentina's "positioning and projection of influence" in the South Atlantic region.
On August 3, Argentine President Milei announced the decision to restart the project to build a naval base in Ushuaia. Ushuaia is the capital of Argentina's southern province of Tierra del Fuego, located about 700 kilometers from the Falkland Islands.
Argentina and the United Kingdom have a dispute over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. In April 1982, the two countries went to war over the issue of sovereignty, which ended in a British victory. Since Argentina's defeat, it has not given up its claim to sovereignty over the islands, while the UK has refused to negotiate on the sovereignty issue. (Reporter: Ma Tianjing)
Argentina plans to establish a naval military base in Ushuaia, with construction set to begin on January 2. The base will support submarines, naval infantry, and naval aviation, serving as a logistics hub for Argentina's Antarctic operations. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance Argentina's military presence in the South Atlantic, amidst ongoing sovereignty disputes with the UK over the Falkland Islands.
- Argentina plans to build a naval base in Ushuaia by January 2.
- The base will support submarines, naval infantry, and naval aviation.
- It will serve as a logistics hub connecting Argentina's Antarctic bases.
- The project was announced by President Milei on August 3.
- The sovereignty of the Falkland Islands is disputed between Argentina and the UK.