China may still have foot in the door to sell military jets to Argentina, despite Fernandez pulling purchase plan
- Chinese military analysts point to interference by US and UK, and Latin American country’s struggling economy as possible causes of programme failure
- Argentine air force upgrade challenged by Britain’s embargo following Falklands war, expert says
Argentina’s negotiations to buy military aircraft from countries including China are likely to remain open, despite its president throwing cold water on the programme, according to Chinese analysts.
It was possible that interference by the United States and Britain was one of the prompts for Argentina to pull the programme for now, two Chinese military analysts said, adding that the country’s turbulent economy might also have caused the postponement.
02:08
Street celebrations after Argentina beats France to lift third World Cup
“Argentina has to allocate its resources to more important things than the purchase of military aircraft,” Fernandez told the Financial Times when asked last week about the possibility of buying Chinese warplanes.
There was no war on the South American continent and unity was sought between the countries in the region, he added.
Before the announcement, potential aircraft types considered included the JF-17, which is jointly produced by China and Pakistan; the F-16, made by US firm Lockheed Martin; the Tejas, by India’s Hindustan Aeronautics; and the Russian Mikoyan MiG-35.
Last year, the Argentine government set aside US$664 million in the 2022 budget to buy multifunctional fighter jets to modernise its air force.