Argentina is considering purchasing JF-17 Thunder aircraft from Pakistan toconsolidate its defensive capabilities after having been refused the sameby South Korea.

The South Korean aerospace company KAI reportedly had an agreement with theArgentine Air Force to supply it FA-50 fighter aircraft but rescinded as itcapitulated to the diplomatic pressure of the United Kingdom (UK) which isArgentina’s geopolitical rival.——————————

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Ties between the UK and Argentina have been strained since the 1980s afterthe latter invaded British Overseas Territories (BOTS), namely the FalklandIslands and its territorial dependency South Georgia, and the SouthSandwich Islands in 1982. The move resulted in the 10-week long undeclaredFalklands War that ended with a British victory.

The Air Chief of the Argentine Air Force, Brigadier Xavier Isaac, has saidthat KAI had annulled the defense deal on the pretext that Argentina isfinancially unstable and cannot afford to purchase FA-50 jets.

He remarked that Britain’s action did not surprise Argentina as it had longanticipated this move by KAI.——————————

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Brigadier Issac also stated that the Argentine Air Force is nowcontemplating purchasing JF-17 Thunder Block-III from Pakistan, adding thata high-level delegation of the Argentine Air Force had visited Pakistan in2017 to examine the fighter jet.

He concluded that the acquisition of the JF-17 Thunder Block-III will be agiant leap by Argentina.