Javier Milei wants to bolster the Argentine military (Image: Getty)
Argentina’s Javier Milei wants Britain to lift a weapons ban so his Government can buy state-of-the-art military equipment.
Mr Milei said he would travel to the UK in April or May and wants to meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for talks.
Strict export controls on weapons with British components mean Argentina cannot “enhance” its military. This, experts say, is effectively a ban on buying Western arms.
They were put in place following the Falklands War, when almost 1,000 troops were killed during the two-month conflict.
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Mr Milei said: “There are no world powers without military power.
“There is no country that counts in the international context if they can’t defend their borders.”
Asked directly if negotiations had begun on relaxing the British veto, Mr Milei replied: “Absolutely.”
Mr Milei is set to become the first Argentinian president to visit Britain since 1998.
The firebrand President insisted the Falklands Islands could be given back through diplomatic negotiations.
He said: “Since I consider that the solution is to be sought through peaceful and diplomatic solutions, I think that the best way to show the willingness on the part of Argentina is to show that we also have a commercially adult relationship.”
Mr Milei said he favours America over Russia and China in the era of state competition.
He told The Telegraph: “There is a bloc that is China and its satellites. There is another one that is Russia and its satellites. And there is another that’s the US, trying to ensure that their influence area – their bloc of satellites – is all of the American continent.”
Argentina wants to bolster its military (Image: Getty)
The Argentine President, who has vowed to boost defence spending after slashing state spending, also revealed his vision for residents on the Falklands Islands choosing to become part of Argentina.
He told The Telegraph: “There’s no way I would give up on or relinquish territory, but it is clear that individuals will end up voting with their feet. And if you replicate such living conditions that will ensure high standards of living for them, it may well be they are more willing to recognise that territory as Argentine.”
In response, a UK Government spokesman said: “Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands is not up for negotiation, and we will defend its right of self-determination. In 2013, the islanders held a referendum on their future, with an overwhelming majority choosing to remain part of the UK.
“There are no specific talks with Argentina about the UK relaxing its arms export controls. More broadly, we look forward to deepening our co-operation with Argentina across areas including trade, science and culture to deliver growth for the British people.”
