Kristi Noem Meets With Argentine Government to Advance Bilateral Security

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem met on Monday, July 28, with the president of Argentina and a delegation from his government in Buenos Aires to discuss bilateral security cooperation.

The meeting, held in President Javier Milei’s office, was attended by Argentina’s Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires Heidi Nicole Gómez, and U.S. advisor Robert Thomas Law.

During the meeting, the parties discussed joint efforts against illegal fishing in the South Atlantic, money laundering linked to terrorism, and the fight against drug trafficking, organized crime, and terrorism along the northern border.

“With President Milei, we received Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security of the United States. (…) We strengthened cooperation to identify fugitives, combat drug trafficking, and secure our borders. [A] strategic alliance with common values. Freedom, order, and security,” read a post on X by Bullrich on July 28.

Argentina reaffirmed its commitment to the United States to strengthen bilateral relations and act jointly against threats affecting regional security.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said that Noem and Bullrich also signed a “declaration of intent” with the goal of advancing joint efforts to allow Argentina’s reentry into its Visa Waiver Program (VWP), a program that allows citizens of designated countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business without a visa.

“Under President Javier Milei’s leadership, Argentina is becoming an even stronger friend to the United States—more committed than ever to border security for both of our nations,” Noem said in the statement.

“This statement of intent I signed alongside Minister Werthein and Minister Bullrich highlights our strong partnership with Argentina and our mutual desire to promote lawful travel while deterring threats,” she added.

Noem explain that Argentina now “has the lowest visa overstay rate in all of Latin America” and a 25 percent increase in citizens traveling to the United States in the first four months of this year compared to last year—“the largest increase among the top 20 countries with the largest number of international arrivals.”

“This type of diplomatic leadership, spearheaded by President Trump, will contribute to increasing the security of both countries,” she added.

According to a statement issued by Milei’s office, the request for redesignation of the Visa Waiver Program constitutes the first step in a rigorous process that will require Argentina to meet high international standards in its immigration process.

“Technical cooperation includes key areas of work such as the incorporation of electronic passports, biometric systems, and advanced immigration control,” the statement read.