U.S. Relations with Argentina

Fact Sheet

February 22, 2024

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will visit Buenos Aires February 23, 2024, and meet with President Javier Milei to reaffirm shared interests and expand cooperation on trade, critical minerals, human rights, and security.

U.S.-Argentina Relations

The United States and Argentina maintain a bilateral relationship based on deep economic ties and shared interests, including democracy and human rights, counterterrorism and rule of law, improving citizen security, science, energy and technology infrastructure, people-to-people ties, and education.
In 2023, we celebrated 200 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Argentina.
A U.S. Presidential Delegation led by Energy Secretary Granholm attended President Milei’s December 10, 2023, inauguration. Members of the delegation met privately with President Milei to fortify the relationship between the United States and Argentina. In 2023, the United States and Argentina held successful high-level dialogues on human rights and labor rights that increased alignment on these shared values.
The Argentina Declassification Project, the largest government-to-government declassification release in U.S. history, released over 11,000 records related to human rights abuses under Argentina’s 1976-1983 dictatorship. It reflects the U.S. government’s longstanding commitment to transparency, accountability, and human rights.

Bilateral Economic Relations

The United States is the largest foreign investor in Argentina, with approximately $12.6 billion (stock) foreign direct investment in 2022, according to the Department of Commerce.
The United States supports sustainable, inclusive growth in Argentina through its participation in the IMF and other international financial institutions that support financial stability and structural reform. On February 1, 2024, the board members of the IMF supported the Seventh Review of Argentina’s program, enabling the disbursement of $4.7 billion in funds needed to support ongoing economic reforms.
In August 2021, the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires launched the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) at our Binational Center in Rosario. This initiative helped 30 Argentine women entrepreneurs create and grow their businesses through a blend of online training, mentorship, networking, and soft skill building.
U.S. science cooperation with Argentina remains strong, with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at the forefront of collaboration. Argentina signed the Artemis Accords during a visit by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson to Argentina on July 27, 2023, joining an expanding multilateral conversation regarding a common vision of peaceful space cooperation.
Through the Department of State’s Bureau of Energy Resources and the Department of Energy’s Net Zero World initiative, the United States delivers technical assistance on critical minerals, decarbonization, renewable energy deployment, and power sector procurement.

Foreign Assistance and Cooperation

The Department of State provides training and equipment to Argentina to counter transnational criminal organizations, drug trafficking, and related financial crime. The Department of State also funded a $1.3 million U.S.-Argentina initiative to Counter Synthetic Drugs and Precursor Chemicals, which is illustrative of our strong bilateral cooperation and Argentina’s leadership on this growing threat in the region.
The United States and Argentina also cooperate on economic revitalization. U.S. Department of Labor programs support the Argentine government and civil society’s efforts to combat child and forced labor, increase worker safety, and expand apprenticeship opportunities for at-risk youth.
Since 2017, Argentina has received $6.6 million in Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) security assistance to support the development of an engineer company it has pledged for UN peacekeeping operations.
On December 20, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed terrorism charges against Samuel Salman El Reda for his role in planning and executing the attack on the Argentine-Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA).

Educational and Cultural Relations

The United States and Argentina cooperate closely on a range of binational educational activities at the basic and higher education levels. The Binational Fulbright Commission coordinates the exchange of students, teachers, and researchers. The Commission facilitates over 250 exchanges annually and has coordinated over 10,000 exchanges since its inception in 1956.
More than 11,000 youth, students, scholars, teachers, and professionals have participated in cultural and educational exchanges between the United States and Argentina.

Combatting the Climate Crisis

Argentina is a strong partner in efforts to tackle the climate crisis. President Milei has committed to maintain Argentina’s nationally determined contribution by limiting emissions to a level 27.7 percent below its 2016 total emission target.
Argentina also increased its renewable energy target from 25 percent to 30 percent by 2030, committed to reduce methane emissions, and pledged to eradicate illegal deforestation.
Rosario, one of Argentina’s prominent port cities, participates in the Cities Forward Initiative as a partner city to Chattanooga, Tennessee. The cities are working to develop an urban sustainability project that benefits each city’s most vulnerable populations.

Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation

Argentina is an active member and positive voice in the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation, a White House initiative launched on September 18, 2023. The 38-country partnership enables Atlantic coastal states to collaborate on common challenges to advance a peaceful, stable, prosperous, open, safe, and cooperative Atlantic region and promote healthy, sustainable, and resilient Atlantic resources.