The ruling by U.S. judge Loretta Preska against the Argentine State for the irregular expropriation of YPF in 2012 has once again brought to the table the enormous cost that Kirchnerist populism continues to generate for all Argentines. The sum of USD 16 billion represents much more than a judicial debt: it is the direct result of an irresponsible political decision, executed without technical, legal, or institutional criteria by then Minister of Economy Axel Kicillof, who is now governor of the Province of Buenos Aires.
The court decision orders the country to hand over 51% of YPF shares to the funds Burford Capital and Bainbridge, who purchased the bankruptcy of Grupo Petersen, the holding of the Eskenazi —close associates of Kirchnerism— who were favored in their entry into YPF with an unprecedented "crony socialism" model.
But what could Argentina have done with those 16 billion dollars if they hadn't been squandered on a poorly executed expropriation? The equivalent of:
5,330 Stryker combat vehicles
20 Scorpène submarines
5,330,000 rifles with accessories
35 Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft
60 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets
246 KC-135R military aircraft
23 multipurpose frigates
266 LPD amphibious ships
46 integrated naval bases
89,000 Unimog 4000 military trucks
A strategic defense package:
600 Stryker vehicles
3 Scorpène submarines
100,000 rifles
