Argentina to Join NATO as Global Partner

Argentina’s Minister of Defense, Luis Petri, met with NATO's Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday to formally initiate the process of joining the alliance as a global partner.

During the meeting, Argentina presented a letter of intent to begin the process of incorporating the country into the organization, signaling its interest in contributing constructively to global security.

“We will continue working to establish connections that enable us to modernize and train our forces to NATO standards,” Petri stated following the meeting. In addition to strengthening ties with NATO for peace operations, Argentina aims to enhance maritime control and cyber capabilities.

"It is a great pleasure to welcome Defense Minister Petri to NATO headquarters," said Geoana, noting that "Argentina plays an important role in Latin America."

During the discussions, Geoana thanked Argentina for its support to Ukraine through humanitarian assistance. The officials also exchanged views on security challenges in Europe and Latin America.

While in Brussels, Minister Petri also met with Javier Colomina Piriz, NATO's Deputy Secretary General for Public Affairs and Security Policy. Petri presented Argentina's proposals to explore mutual interests such as maritime security and to bolster strategic security dialogues.

NATO's Global Partners

NATO engages with several "global partners" on an individual basis, including Afghanistan, Australia, Colombia, Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Pakistan.

NATO's practical collaboration with these partners covers critical areas such as cyber defense, maritime security, humanitarian aid, non-proliferation, defense technology, and Women, Peace, and Security. Some partners contribute to NATO's military operations, while others benefit from NATO's expertise in capacity-building and defense training.

Political consultation and intelligence-sharing are integral to NATO’s engagement with global partners, fostering regional understanding and expertise exchange. This dialogue enhances NATO’s situational awareness beyond its immediate sphere and enables partners to contribute to policy discussions on shared security challenges, including in cyberspace, space, and climate change.

Political dialogue occurs in various formats, including at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Partners from the Indo-Pacific region, like Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and New Zealand, regularly participate in discussions within NATO committees.

At the highest level, NATO's leadership engages with global partners' Heads of State, foreign ministers, defense ministers, and other senior officials to strengthen cooperation and address common security priorities.