LATIN AMERICA REVIEW 9 MAY 1980[SANITIZED] - 1980/05/09

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06628545
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: May 9, 1980

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LAT IN AMERICA REVIEW tyy
9 May 1990
CONTENTS
Argentina-USSRt _IinprOving Relations (M
A Convergence of interests hat taken place
in recent months and 'is likely to continue,
regardless of US. P0licie811.
16
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.Argentinar4iSSR,:. Improving Relations (U),
There, has been a noticeable convergence of interests
in recent months between Argentina and the Soviet Union,
,despite marked differ641Ces in their national political
,orientations. .This trend is virtuall 'certain to con-
itinue, regardiets of If?4)tilici 3.5(c)
The key points of this conVOX7gence are as follows.:
-- The Soviet Union', WhiCh has been one Of Argen-
tina's Ma40r-tgAd44-Partnert-'in recent .Years,
promises to b' an..eVenTiil'Oie6rtant'pattner
in 1,80, when Moscow will buy njpsit of Argen,-
eXportable.grain*., X000040-t grain,
purchases thit-year,are'likeIi to total approxi-
mately 6 million tons--more than triple the pre-
ceding Year
3.5(c)
-- The SOviets have discuaSed the supply of nuclear
-materials andt[technOlq.41 'With, the Argentines..
-- The possibility of SOviet armt.*aIes and train-
ing
also WAS:diatutaea.'dUring artexChange. of
military-delegationt laSt fall.
-- A, protocol has been signed to allow Soviet re-
search on fishing resources in Argentine waters.
- Moscow is Supplying technical expertise for a
major Argentine hydroeltctrioproject.
-- the two cOuntriOS have supported each other in
international forums, wher'e. they both have
undergone harsh critidism fOi human rights
abut es '
The US SA also syppotts.'.45entina, in it
with Chile Over-the":Bgagle Channel.
The relationship with the Soviets " Allows Argentina
to ,demonstrate both itS..noteatin4independence And in-
ternational stature. I, also provides luenos Aires an
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opportunity to, ,vent its. irritation.over ItS.: human-rights
and' nuclear-proliferation policies '.and :the termination
of Washington's-. military assistanCe. programs.
Moscow's interest in Argentina has quickened in; the
- Wake, Of the US grain embargo. " InteadditiOxvto securing
access to Argentine grain and, developing, trade ties, ,the
USSR is. trying to exploit Argentine differences with the
United States. Moscow-is willing- to �overlook Argentina's
right-wing orientation,' ?because a;:ltsietter,relationship
With Buenos Aires would*,give'the;ip-oviets afQothold,,in
: an important country in .�a traditional up sphere of influ-
ence.
3.5(c)
Institutionally, Argentina's, military government is
.strongly anti-Communist and, despite the fact that ,it is
a dictatorship, it closely identifies With 'Western democ-
racies. Buenos Aires appears eager to expand and improve
its relations with the USSR, but, in our judgment, it has
no intention of aligning ideologically or militarily with
the Soviet Bloc.. ;:,3.5(c)
Expanded relationg. -probably will be limited largely
to trade, and, despite imbalances, this trade can be ex-
pected to grow. the two countries reportedly are nego-
tiating a long-term grain agreement for a minimum of
5 million tons of grain'annuallYIor the 1981-85 'period,
thus further tipping the trade balance--already '$350 mil-
3.5(c)
lion in Argentina's fay0t.
The Soviets,teelcing,taredresS this balance, will
try to Sell more:l'higtidlOt# i**IiP.,iritheArgentine
market,, but probably without much Succe86,�7 They might
.supply additional equipment for hydroelectric power.in-
stallations. The fishing protocol also could benefit
them economically by Pgaltidi41 the opening for a major
fishing program in Argentine' waters. The USSR, ..however,
probably is willing to endureanadverse-,trade balance
in Order to preserve access to sizable grain and meat
-supplies over the next few years.
3.5(c)
It is unlikely that the Soviets will, become a- key
.supplier of military hardware, however, because the.
Argentines are wary of :political strings that might be
attached. Neither are the Argentines likely to accept
the Soviet training necessary for the use of advanced
isTeapons --,systemS4. -3.5(c)
9 May :1980
3.5(c)
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