Profound reshuffle in the leadership of the Argentine Armed Forces

Buenos Aires, December 15, 2025 - The National Executive Official body officially announced on Monday a profound reshuffle in the leadership of the Armed Forces, with the appointment of new chiefs for the Army General Staff, the Navy General Staff, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the figure of the Commander of Joint Operations. These designations are part of a broader renewal in the force leadership, formalized in the corresponding decrees and endorsed by the Minister of Defense. In the Argentine Navy, Vice Admiral Juan Carlos Romay was appointed as Chief of the General Staff, replacing Admiral Carlos María Allievi. The appointments came into immediate effect upon their publication in the Official Gazette and were backed by the Chief of Cabinet and the Minister of Defense. These movements in military leadership occur in the context of an institutional reconfiguration of the sector, after President Javier Milei appointed Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto Presti as the new Minister of Defense, marking a turning point in the relationship between the Government and the military structure. Romay, whose career includes command of emblematic naval units and educational leadership roles within the force, will take command of the naval force at a time when the Navy seeks to strengthen its operational projection and its role in maritime space control actions and regional cooperation. Meanwhile, Major General Oscar Santiago Zarich was appointed as Chief of the General Staff of the Argentine Army. Presti, who took office in early December, promoted part of these designation proposals to the President of the Nation. The appointment of Dalle Nogare at the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is a milestone, as his career includes international operational roles and experience in intelligence and strategic planning, which, according to analysts, could drive greater operational integration among the forces. The renewal, published today in the Official Gazette through decrees 885, 886, 887, and 888/2025, responds to what the Government described as the operational and professional needs of the military structure in a context of institutional reorganization. Vice Admiral Marcelo Alejandro Dalle Nogare was appointed as the new Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, a key position that coordinates the actions of the three forces. Dalle Nogare, a 1987 graduate of the Naval Military School and with a career marked by naval commands and strategic planning roles, assumes the position in place of Brigadier General Xavier Julián Isaac, thus consolidating a leadership that integrates operational experience and geostrategic training. In parallel, Brigadier General Héctor César Tornero was appointed Commander of Joint Operations, a role that will involve directing inter-force missions and the tactical coordination of human and material resources in joint deployment scenarios. On the other hand, the continuity of the process of modernizing military capabilities and adapting to new regional security challenges are priorities on the agenda of the new force chiefs. The National Government submitted these decisions at a time when the country is facing challenges in defense and security, both domestically and internationally, and seeks to consolidate a military leadership that articulates operational efficiency with strategic alignments defined by civilian authorities. Zarich's appointment is framed within an internal reorganization of the Army, which, according to official sources, aims to strengthen the operational and doctrinal preparation of the force. The official regulations also accepted the resignation of Colonel Marcelo Alejandro Rozas Garay from his functions at the Ministry of Defense, thus completing the leadership change process in the main command nodes. Zarich, who was serving as commander of Training and Force Readiness, takes over replacing Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto Presti, who was called to the post of Minister of Defense by the President of the Nation.