Germany and France propose submarines to bolster Argentina's navy amid Falklands dispute
Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and France's Naval Group have each offered to build three submarines for Argentina as Buenos Aires pushes its claim over the Falkland Islands.
Argentina’s armed forces announced plans to acquire three new submarines to modernise a fleet that has relied on aging vessels since the 1970s. French shipbuilder Naval Group proposed its Scorpene-class submarines, and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems offered the Type 209NG, with each nation ready to fund the deal upfront and receive repayments later. Admiral Marcelo Dalle Nogare said the final choice will hinge on geopolitical interests and financing, and that delivery would take about six years after a contract is signed.
The proposals arrive amid heightened Argentine claims to the Falkland Islands, echoed by President Javier Milei’s recent UN remarks, though he has ruled out military action. British officials have criticized the talks, and the UK continues amphibious exercises to defend the islands.
Why it matters
The potential submarine deal could shift the naval balance around the contested Falkland Islands and deepen Argentina’s ties with European defence firms.
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