The core of the debate remains defense: in the mountains or in the sky, with llamas or jets. A post by Interior Minister Diego Santilli caused a stir by comparing the use of 'llama machine guns' on the border during the Kirchner era with the purchase of F-16 fighter jets by the government of Javier Milei. The message, posted on his official X account (@diegosantilli), included two images: a llama equipped with light weaponry on its back and an F-16 fighter jet in flight. 'That's how we protect Argentine sovereignty,' the official wrote. The reference to 'llama machine guns' alludes to a real 2018 initiative by the Argentine Army in the mountainous areas of Jujuy, where animals were used to transport ammunition and rifles in hard-to-reach terrain. However, the project drew criticism from veterans of the Falklands/Malvinas War, who warned about the origin of the jets as part of an alliance with the United Kingdom. Santilli's tweet, which garnered over 280,000 views and nearly 500 replies, sparked a clash between government supporters and critics who pointed out Morales's authorship of the llama project and called the F-16s 'obsolete' or 'discarded by Colombia'. On social media, comparisons multiplied between those who celebrate the incorporation of new military technology and those who ironicize about the official's 'selective memory'. Amid the debate, the focus remains on defense: in the mountains or in the sky, with llamas or jets. 'We went from incorporating 'LLAMA MACHINE GUNS' during Kirchnerism to incorporating F-16s with President @JMilei.' According to the Argentine News Agency, it was a logistical strategy inspired by models used in mountainous regions like the Himalayas. In contrast, the Milei government confirmed in 2024 the purchase of 24 F-16 fighter jets from Denmark for $240 million, with external financing and backing from the United States. The agreement was led by Defense Minister Luis Petri and includes pilot training and advanced weapon systems such as AIM-120 missiles. The operation represented a geopolitical shift in Argentina's defense policy, bringing it closer to NATO and Washington.
