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Since the government of President Carlos Menem (1989-1999), Argentina has had a strong partnership with the United States. During this period, Argentina left the Non-Aligned Movement and adopted a policy of "automatic alignment" with the United States.
Argentina was the only Latin American country to participate in the Gulf War and all phases of the Haiti operation. It has contributed to UN peacekeeping operations worldwide, with Argentine soldiers and police serving in Guatemala, Ecuador-Peru, Western Sahara, Angola, Cyprus, Kosovo, Bosnia, and East Timor. In recognition of its contributions to international security and peacekeeping, the U. S. Government designated Argentina as a major non-NATO ally in January 1998.
At the UN, Argentina supported U. S. policies and proposals, among them the condemnations of Cuba on the issue of human rights, and the fight against international terrorism and narcotics trafficking. In November 1998, Argentina hosted the United Nations conference on climate change, and in October 1999 in Berlin, became one of the first nations worldwide to adopt a voluntary greenhouse-gas emissions target.
Argentina also became a leading advocate of nonproliferation efforts worldwide. A strong proponent of enhanced regional stability in South America, Argentina revitalized its relationship with Brazil; settled lingering border disputes with Chile; discouraged military takeovers in Ecuador and Paraguay; served with the United States, Brazil and Chile as one of the four guarantors of the Ecuador-Peru peace process; and restored diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom. Argentina's reputation as a mediator was damaged, however, when President Menem and some members of his cabinet were accused of approving the illegal sale of weapons to Ecuador and to Croatia.
In 1998, President Menem made a state visit to the U. K., and the Prince of Wales reciprocated with a visit to Argentina. In 1999, the two countries agreed to normalize travel to the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) from the mainland and resumed direct flights.
Argentina was an enthusiastic supporter of the Summit of the Americas process, and chaired the Free Trade of the Americas initiative.
Within the term of President Néstor Kirchner, from 2003 onwards, Argentina suspended its policy of "automatic alignment" with the United States and moved closer to other Latin American countries. It does no longer vote against Cuba about the issue of human rights, but has chosen to abstain.
The Mercosur has become a central part of the Argentine foreign policy, with the goal of forming a Latin American free trade alliance. Support for the FTAA has been suspended. Argentina has chosen to form a block with Brazil when it comes to external negotiations, though the economic asymetries between South America's two largest countries have produced tension in recent times.
Issues
- Argentina claims U. K.-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), as well as South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
- It also has a territorial claim in Antarctica.
- Argentina is being increasingly used as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe and the United States, and as a money-laundering center.
Reference
Much of the material in this article comes from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website.
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