The Defense Minister, Carlos Presti, defended the purchase of the F-16s, announced essential changes in the military social security system, and acknowledged the salary debts inherited from Kirchnerism
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The arrival of Carlos Presti at the Ministry of Defense marks a turning point in the civil-military leadership of Argentina. In line with the disruptive style of President Javier Milei, the new head of the defense portfolio described his appointment as “historic” and maintained that it establishes “a turning point” in the leadership of the area, since it involves an active-duty military officer at the head of the ministry.
“It is a historic appointment that the President has made, he has marked a turning point in the leadership of the Ministry of Defense by appointing a military officer to head it. It is the right moment for our country”, Presti stated in a conversation with A24, while highlighting the political decision of the libertarian head of state.
The lieutenant general replaced outgoing Luis Petri and emphasized that his appointment responds to Milei's management style. “It is a historic appointment that the President has made with his disruptive style in the exercise of the presidency”, he stressed, making it clear that the central objective is to strengthen the Armed Forces after years of neglect.
Presti also clarified his administrative situation within the Army: “I am in an active-duty situation. I am governed by the Military Personnel Law. Beyond the opinion-makers, I am governed by the law.” In that regard, he explained that his transfer to availability status “is for six months” and that he could then move to a retired status, while always maintaining the current legal framework. “My salary is paid by the Army and I am going to have a single salary”, he specified.
“I come from a military family, I have been in the Armed Forces for 41 years, I have spent my entire military life in active service. I know the Armed Forces in depth”, he added, vindicating his career and internal knowledge of the institution. In terms of equipment, the minister was forceful in supporting one of the most relevant decisions of the national government: the acquisition of F-16 aircraft. As he explained, President Milei explicitly asked him to “strengthen the Armed Forces”, an objective that he defined as central to accompanying the country's growth.
Carlos Presti.
“We need the Armed Forces to be strengthened, to be strong in order to accompany the country's growth”, Presti maintained, and he detailed that this implies “improving their capabilities, having the appropriate equipment, and being in a position to fulfill the missions that the Armed Forces have within the security system, which is to guarantee sovereignty.”
Regarding the F-16s, he was categorical: “They have been a superb purchase that our country has made”, and he attributed the criticism to sectors that are unfamiliar with military reality. “For a long time we have had disinvestment in the Armed Forces”, he lamented, while denouncing that in previous administrations the institution “has not been equipped”.
“There are opinion-makers who do not know what they are talking about. Let's ask our active-duty officers and they are going to tell us that they represent a qualitative leap in the capability of the Air Force”, he defended, reinforcing the Government's line of restoring strategic capabilities after decades of neglect.
The minister also addressed the most sensitive issues affecting the military family, such as salaries, the health insurance system, and the recent deaths of personnel. On this last point, he referred to the series of suicides that occurred in recent weeks, in which six officers died.
“We are deeply concerned because this is our own personnel. On a human level, it pains us deeply to lose men in these situations”, he expressed, and he assured that “we have activated all prevention systems and protocols to prevent this from happening again.” He even pointed out that “some may have had gambling problems”, as part of the factors under analysis.
Regarding military salaries, Presti was realistic and pointed to the legacy received: “We can't have adequate salaries when we come from an impoverished country, with decades of disinvestment and an economy that did not work. Only now are we having a functional country.” He emphasized that “the issue of salaries is historic, it involves a process in order to adjust them and have appropriate salaries”.
Finally, he referred to the critical state of the Social Health Insurance Institute of the Armed and Security Forces (IOFSA) and announced a far-reaching reform. “We are going to present a new health insurance system for the Armed Forces, with a military officer exercising the presidency in charge”, he anticipated, and he conveyed a direct message to the troops: “I want to convey certainty to the military family”.
In that context, he anticipated that he will present his proposal to the Chief of Cabinet and he appeared confident: “I am certain that the solution I am going to present tomorrow is going to be successful”, he concluded.
