The Milei government denied a journalistic operation regarding the alleged sale of a naval base.

The Ministry of Defense categorically denied reports indicating that the national Government was considering selling or deactivating the Naval Base of Mar del Plata, one of the most important facilities of the Argentine Navy and the focus of recent political and media speculation.

Through an official statement, the department led by Carlos Presti assured that "there is no analysis, consideration, or decision aimed at the sale or deactivation of the Naval Base Mar del Plata, nor of any other strategic asset of the Armed Forces". The clarification came after various media outlets spread reports about a supposed intention of the Government to take action on that property following the creation of the Argentine Military Adaptation and Reequipment Plan (ARMA).

From Defense, they maintained that the information disseminated by media such as Clarín "has no basis in any official document, no instructions sent to the Armed Forces, nor any ongoing policy". Additionally, they attributed those rumors to "speculations of local political origin that do not correspond with official information".

The controversy gained traction after the publication of articles linking Decree 314/2026 with the possibility of selling strategic military land to finance the reequipment of the Armed Forces. However, the Ministry emphasized that the spirit of that regulation is precisely the opposite.

As explained in the statement, the decree signed by President Javier Milei created the ARMA Plan with the aim of providing the defense system with a sustained source of funding to modernize its operational capabilities. In that sense, the regulation establishes mechanisms for reinvesting resources generated by state assets to strengthen military reequipment and not to dismantle strategic facilities.

Defense also recalled the importance of the Naval Base of Mar del Plata within the national security framework. The property is home to the Submarine Force Command, the Atlantic Naval Area, and the Tactical Divers Group, in addition to being one of the main points of Argentine presence in the South Atlantic.

The statement also highlighted that the base is celebrating a century of uninterrupted existence this year. "Its operational continuity is indisputable and is not subject to any type of review", affirmed the Ministry, dispelling any doubts about its future.

Finally, the Defense department reiterated its commitment to institutional transparency and to the Mar del Plata community, guaranteeing the continuity of all operational, logistical, and training functions carried out both at the Naval Base of Mar del Plata and across the country's military facilities.