U.S. Marines Join Argentine Cold-Weather Exercise Amid Constitutional Dispute

Eight U.S. Marines arrived in the southern province of Tierra del Fuego as part of a “cold-weather expert exchange” with Argentina’s 4th Marine Infantry Battalion (BIM 4) in Ushuaia. The joint exercise was scheduled to begin on September 8 and run until September 22. Argentina’s Navy confirmed the presence of the troops on September 16.

Latin Times

The drill occurs against a backdrop of heightened tension over the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, a territory claimed by Argentina and administered by the United Kingdom since the 1982 war that began on April 2, 1982. President Javier Milei has recently imposed sanctions on oil firms operating without Argentine permission in the archipelago (announced on September 4) and expanded funding for a new military base in Ushuaia. Earlier U.S. deployments were authorized by decree in September 2025 (joint exercises in the south) and April 2026 (Special Operations Forces from U.S. Southern Command).

Latin Times

Andrés Dachary, Secretary of the Falkland Islands, Antarctica, South Atlantic Islands and International Affairs of Tierra del Fuego, warned that the exercise bypasses the constitutional requirement for congressional approval. Argentine Defense Minister Carlos Presti emphasized that the government is pursuing the Falklands claim through diplomatic channels and that the U.S.

Latin Times

Senator Cristina López (Peronist) filed a Question of Privilege on September 17, alleging that the presence of U.S. Marines violates Article 75, section 28 of the Constitution because Congress was not consulted. She cited prior authorizations on October 20 and November 15, 2025 as precedent for the current breach.

Latin Times

• U.S. personnel: 8 Marines.

Latin Times

• Exercise dates: scheduled September 8 – September 22.

Latin Times

• Defense budget: a 24.4 % increase for 2027 and authorization to incur up to USD 3.5 billion for three submarines and two frigates.

Latin Times

• “It constitutes a flagrant institutional irregularity and a violation of the National Constitution, which places the responsibility of authorizing the entry of foreign troops into national territory on the National Congress.” — Likewise, the official

Latin Times

• “What stands out in this third visit is the alignment that Milei maintains with his North American counterpart within the framework of bilateral cooperation,” — Mariana Altieri, a geopolitics specialist and founder of the Meridiano Foundation

Latin Times

• “Another concern deepens: on October 20 and November 15 [2025], with the authorization of the National Government, U.S. military troops arrived to conduct joint exercises in the city of Ushuaia. The same situation is happening now with the presence of U.S. Marines, violating our Constitution, without authorization from Congress, as established by Article 75, section 28.” — Senator López, peronist senator

Latin Times