Historic: Milei appointed Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto Presti as Minister of Defence

In a historic decision, President Javier Milei appointed Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto Presti, current Chief of the Army General Staff, as the new Minister of Defense, marking an unprecedented shift in the leadership of the Ministry and highlighting the appointment of a career professional to head the department.

According to the official statement, this is "the first time since the return of democracy" that a military officer with an impeccable track record assumes this responsibility, a fact that the Government considers an essential step to "put an end to the demonization of our officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers."

The news comes as part of a cabinet reorganization announced today. The President thanked "the services of Minister Patricia Bullrich and Minister Luis Petri," who will leave their positions on December 10 to begin a new legislative phase, Bullrich in the Senate and Petri in the Chamber of Deputies.

Milei's government detailed that the change seeks to deepen the policies that both ministers have promoted since the beginning of the administration, reinforcing the emphasis on professionalization and firmness in both the Security Forces and the Armed Forces.

In this context, the current Secretary of Security, Alejandra Monteoliva, will take over the National Security Ministry. According to the statement, Monteoliva "has been a key element of the 'Bullrich Doctrine,' which establishes as a priority the frontal fight against narco-terrorism and criminal organizations, and the maintenance of the rule of law and order in the streets of the Argentine Republic."

However, the greatest political and symbolic impact of the announcements fell on Presti's appointment to Defense. The statement emphasizes that his rise to the highest rank in the Army and now to the Ministry is "a tradition that we hope the political leadership will continue from now on," highlighting both his technical training and his reputation within the institution.

For the Casa Rosada, his appointment represents a vindication of the military career and an explicit recognition of professionalism within the Armed Forces, which have historically been affected by political tensions.

Both appointments, the Office of the President states, "imply a continuation of the course that these ministries began on December 10, 2023, with Patricia Bullrich and Luis Petri at the helm, and their approach will be maintained for the remainder of this administration."

The message concludes with a strategic vision: "The powerful Argentina that we all dream of and that Argentines reaffirmed at the polls last October 26 requires Security Forces and Armed Forces that are strong, professional, and depoliticized, under the leadership of experts in their respective fields."

With Presti's arrival at the Ministry of Defense, the government aims to consolidate that approach, strengthening the presence of specialists with strictly technical training at the head of areas sensitive to national security.