Washington, DC [US], April 20 (HBTV): With Argentina's recent decision to purchase F-16 fighter jets made in the United States and its announcement in early April to collaborate with the US military on a naval base at the southern tip of South America, international affairs analysts see a shift in foreign policy that could have significant implications for both China and the United States, according to Voice of America.   

For close to ten years, Beijing has been attempting to sell Argentina the JF-17 fighter jets that it co-developed with Pakistan.  

According to Argentina expert Christopher Ecclestone of London, the decision was "pretty inevitable" given the pro-democracy, anti-communist stance of the recently elected Argentine President Javier Milei.    

Certain Chinese pundits bemoaned the setback when Argentina chose to buy 24 F-16s from Denmark instead of accepting a rival offer from China.    

Meanwhile, Rick Fisher, a senior fellow at the Washington-based International Assessment and Strategy Centre, said Argentina was too close to surrendering itself completely to Beijing, and deepening military, political and economic cooperation with the nation. It would have terribly affected the US, but Milei's anti-communist stance has turned the tables, reported Voice of America.    

China would have had access to Argentina's defense and security infrastructure if it had been successful in selling the country its jets as well as other weapons, such as armored vehicles, Fisher said, adding that "other Latin American countries would have been encouraged to follow in its footsteps."   

According to analysts, Milei's choice to collaborate with the United States on a broader scale, encompassing a naval facility close to the Strait of Magellan, was as significant.

It had been extensively publicized that China was determined to work with Argentina to develop the facility.

(ANI) This is a syndicated news feed. HBTV has edited it for clarity.