On December 30, Argentina's President Javier Millay signed a law significantly reorganizing the military, prompting the retirement of 22 army generals, seven admirals and three brigadiers.
The law is published On January 2, Prime Minister Millais proposed the most significant changes to military leadership since 2003. In his Decree, Prime Minister Millais proposed the designation of new leadership positions across all branches of the Argentine Armed Forces, appointing Brigadier General Xavier Julián Isaac as commander. Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Commanders associated with the previous socialist government of Alberto Fernández have reportedly been removed from the army's leadership structure, with other commanders also leaving their posts vacant with the rise of leaders favored by Milay. It became so. In the Army, 22 senior generals will automatically retire with the appointment of Brigadier General Alberto Presti as the new top official.
The number of retired generals has increased to 23, including the resignation of Juan Martín Paleo, who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Fernández era (2019-2023). The total number of retirees represents two-thirds of Argentina's current 55 generals.
Mr. Millay's reorganization is the second largest of its kind in Argentine history, surpassed only by the reorganization undertaken by late President Raul Alfonsín upon Argentina's return to democracy in 1983. The new restructuring is larger in scale than the one carried out by the late socialists. President Néstor Kirchner in 2003 encouraged the retirement of 19 generals.
Argentine political scientist Fabian Calle Said spanish newspaper El Pais He said the major reorganization of Argentina's military leadership had “no ideological or political meaning” unlike the one approved by Kirchner in 2003.
“If you look at the name, it's a homogeneous generalship. None of them are considered left-wing or right-wing,” Cull said.
A political scientist also said: El Pais He said he believed Plessis was appointed as Army chief because he is a “young” military man with a “good image” within the military, and that the reorganization would be based on Milley's defense and security concerns. It added that it was in response to a “major overhaul of the military.” agenda.
“This is an important weapon in the government's border control strategy,” Kalu added.
The restructuring is reportedly This entails a wide-ranging audit of resources and capabilities within the military, and is aligned with the austerity measures contained in the Order of Emergency Necessity (DNU) Executive Order. signed Approximately 350 socialist policies will be revised by Millais at the end of December.
The DNU is part of Millay's “shock stabilization plan” for Argentina after two decades of socialist policies brought the country to the brink of complete economic collapse. This executive order is an appendix to a massive article consisting of 351 pages and 664 articles. omnibus If passed, this bill would implement fundamental reforms in Argentina.
During the presidential election campaign, Millais promised Modernize Argentina's defense by improving the country's military equipment and infrastructure, strengthening training, and introducing new technical and operational capabilities.
Milay also promised to update the country's defense policy to “better reflect the geopolitical environment” as part of a recalibration of Argentina's foreign policy toward “civilized” countries such as the United States and Israel. Previous socialist governments imposed the South American nation on China, Iran, and other rogue states.
report published Argentine news agency Infobae reported in November that in the short term, Millais's team plans to implement fundamental changes in Argentina's military and defense, ranging from changes to military education, improvements to military pay and salaries, and changes to national defense. The company plans to make major changes. and security law.
Sources cited by Infobay at the time explained that the Argentine government will pursue amendments to the National Defense Law that would allow for the return of military support in police operations against serious crimes, drug trafficking, terrorism and human trafficking networks. Current regulations allow the use of military only for “acts to suppress any attempt by a foreign national military to violate national sovereignty.”
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
