India and Argentina had elevated their relationship to the level of Strategic Partners in 2019

India and Argentina have reiterated their commitment to work together in the strategic sectors of defence, nuclear energy, and space.

The matter was discussed, along with a host of other bilateral issues, during a Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) presided over by visiting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Argentina's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship Santiago Cafiero in Buenos Aires on Friday.

According to a joint press statement issued after the meeting, India and Argentina reviewed their ongoing cooperation in the strategic sectors of Defence, Nuclear Energy and Space and reiterated their commitment to work together for mutual benefit. It was agreed to enhance cooperation in the Defence sector within the framework of the MOU on Defence Cooperation signed in 2019. Both sides also explored expanding the scope of their partnership, the statement added.

Acknowledging Argentine interest in the Made in India TEJAS fighter aircrafts for Argentine Air Force, EAM Jaishankar highlighted importance of the proposal in enhancing strategic quotient of bilateral relationship. Both sides agreed to promote exchange of visits between Armed Forces, defence trainings and collaboration for joint production of defence related equipment.

PEACEFUL USES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

It was agreed to explore areas for deeper cooperation for peaceful uses of nuclear energy under the Agreement signed between the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) of India and National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina (CNEA) in 2010 as well as the MOU signed between the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership, under DAE, and CNEA in 2019.

It was also agreed to continue the exchanges in a bilateral meeting among the agencies concerned on the margins of the General Conference of International Atomic Energy Agency in September 2022, in order to explore possible dates for holding the next meeting in Argentina of Joint Coordinating Committee, established by the aforementioned Governmental agreement.

They urged Atomic Energy Regulatory Board of India (AERB) and the Argentine Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN) an early conclusion of the proposed MOU on nuclear safety.

CLOSE COOPERATION IN SPACE

According to the joint press statement, both sides expressed satisfaction at the close cooperation in Space through the respective National Space agencies, viz. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) of India and Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE) of Argentina, who are discussing specific opportunities for collaboration in the fields of Satellite Data Sharing, Data Calibration / Validation Experiments, Establishment or cross utilization of ground stations, Space exploration and Space Debris Studies.

Both sides agreed to encourage industrial/commercial collaboration in the Space sector. Both sides agreed that the Third Meeting of the Joint Commission for the implementation of the framework agreement between the two countries on cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space would be held in the second half of 2022.

The visit of EAM Jaishankar was the first Ministerial visit from India since the present Argentine government took over in 2019 as well as the first visit of External Affairs Minister of India to Argentina since 2013.

India and Argentina had elevated their relationship to the level of Strategic Partners in 2019. This partnership was founded on shared principles and values of democracy, freedom, rule of law, respect for human rights and territorial integrity of States, the MEA noted.

Having established their diplomatic ties in 1949, both countries have enjoyed multi- faceted relations encompassing political, economic, energy, mining, science & technology, information technology and cultural cooperation, which have strengthened over the years.