As part of 'world's collective battle against terrorism,' Israel and Argentina strengthen bilateral defense ties

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz hosted his Argentinian counterpart, Luis Alfonso Petri, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced on Monday. The high-level meeting is reportedly aimed at boosting bilateral defense ties between the two countries.

Katz praised Argentina for its strong support for Israel amid the ongoing conflict with the Iranian-backed terror proxies Hamas and Hezbollah.

Petri delivered a message from Argentinian President Javier Milei who stressed that Israel is "not only a national fight but the free world's collective battle against terrorism and civilization's stand against barbarism."

Despite the vast geographical distance between Argentina and Israel, both nations share the challenge of combating Iranian-backed terrorism.

An Israeli Defense Ministry spokesperson stated, “Iran’s destabilizing activities in the Middle East and Latin America.”

“This visit is a testament to Argentina’s unwavering support for Israel in the current war, strengthening the deep and strategic partnership between the nations,” the spokesperson continued.

The governments of Argentina and Israel have expressed their commitment to enhancing collaboration on counter-terrorism and security matters. Their partnership will focus on specific areas, including drone technology, border security, cyber defense, satellite communications, and bilateral agreements for munitions and light weaponry.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre in southern Israel last year, the South American countries of Bolivia and Colombia severed their diplomatic ties with Israel, citing their opposition to Israeli self-defense operations against the terrorist group Hamas in Gaza.

In contrast, under Milei, Argentina has emerged as one of Israel’s strongest supporters globally.

During a visit to Israel in February, Milei said Argentina would eventually move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital Jerusalem. Katz, who at the time served as Israel’s foreign minister, warmly greeted Milei when he arrived in Israel.

"You are a person of values who is committed only to the truth. No wonder that you chose to immediately come to Israel to support us in the just struggle for the defense of the Jewish people against the murderers of Hamas," Katz stated.

In July, Argentina formally joined a growing list of countries designating Hamas as an illegal terrorist organization.

"The Hamas group has been declared by the Argentinian state as an international terrorist organization," the Presidential office in Buenos Aires announced, adding that Milei has "ordered a freeze on the financial assets of the Palestinian group."

In September, the Argentinian president blasted the United Nations for its hostility, highlighting what he perceives as hypocrisy in its condemnations.

“Israel is unjustly targeted while regimes that oppress their people are given a platform,” Milei told attendees at the UN General Assembly.

"In this same house, we, that purports to defend human rights, we have also included bloody dictatorships in the Human Rights Council, including Cuba and Venezuela without reproach," the Argentinian president added.

"In this same house, which purports to defend the rights of women, we've allowed on the CEDAW Committee countries that punish their women just for showing their skin," Milei continued, referring to particularly authoritarian Middle East regimes, including Iran.

Argentina is home to one of the world’s largest Jewish communities, numbering around 200,000 people.