BUENOS AIRES, December 8, 2025 – Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno engaged in a sharp public exchange with retired diplomat Héctor Torres, a former Argentine representative to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), after Torres criticized the recent acquisition of F-16 Fighting Falcon jets by the Government. The jets were presented over the weekend during a low flyover of Buenos Aires.
The operation, valued at approximately US$650 million, included spare parts, logistical equipment, support infrastructure, and the training of pilots and technicians. Six of these aircraft arrived in the country in recent days and performed a flyover of the city's landmarks, a gesture the government interpreted as a symbol of the recovery of supersonic air defense capability, lost years ago with the retirement of the Mirage III and other historical platforms.
Quirno responded on Twitter, reminding Torres that even in retirement, a member of the Foreign Service must conduct themselves "according to their position" and refrain from publicly identifying with that status if they do not. "I remind @HectorRTorres2 that you define yourself as a member of the Argentine Foreign Service. Even in a passive situation, you should: act according to your position, do not use it to describe yourself, or renounce it," Quirno wrote, also posting a link to the official regulation.
This unusually stern warning was interpreted by diplomatic sources as a message to those who use their career in the service to influence public debate on strategic decisions. Although it is not the first time a diplomat has criticized aspects of the libertarian foreign policy, these remarks are generally kept in private circles.
Torres closed his social media comment with the word "Tragic," which immediately prompted the response from the head of diplomacy. Embassies consulted noted that during this administration, "ideological tensions exist but do not lead to dismissals," which does not prevent some retired officials from expressing objections without the traditional filters of the San Martín Palace.
The uniqueness of the episode lies in the fact that Torres is retired but continues to define himself in institutional terms, a gesture that would have annoyed the minister as much as the content of his criticisms. In the background of the exchange lies the intense debate generated by the purchase of the F-16s, an operation valued by the Government as the most significant in defense in decades.
The incident, according to consulted analysts, exposes the divide between the government's modernizing vision, which considers the F-16 an indispensable platform to reposition the Air Force, and sectors that distrust the strategic convenience and political cost of the operation.
Thus, the controversy opened a new chapter in the relationship between the political leadership of the San Martín Palace and historical figures of the Foreign Service. In parallel, it reignited the public discussion on the actual scope of military renewal, just as the Executive seeks to show an agenda of institutional strengthening and reaffirmation of capabilities in an increasingly demanding geopolitical scenario.
The Ministry of Defense maintains that the Danish units remain operational in several NATO countries and maintain an adequate standard for Argentine defense needs, especially in tasks of interception, surveillance, and control of airspace.
The acquired F-16s have an average age of 40 years. Torres had described the purchase as an unjustified "patriotic impulse" and emphasized that the material from Denmark is in the process of being replaced by the new F-35s.
