Carlos Presti signed a resolution that restores military counterintelligence functions within the Armed Forces and eliminates a regulation in effect since 2006, promoted during Nilda Garré's administration.
The measure represents one of the most important reforms in defense and intelligence initiated by Javier Milei's government and aims to adapt the Argentine system to current threats related to terrorism, cyber warfare, foreign espionage, and hybrid operations.
The Government seeks to modernize the defense system
The resolution reorganizes the Defense Intelligence System (SIDEF) and reintegrates military intelligence and counterintelligence functions, which were separated during the Kirchner era under a doctrine that, according to the government, weakened the country's defensive capabilities.
One of the central changes establishes that military counterintelligence will depend on the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, strengthening the joint leadership of the system.
The SIDEF will be composed of:
The General Directorate of Intelligence of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Army Intelligence
Navy Intelligence
Air Force Intelligence
The Kirchnerism left the military system vulnerable
From the Ministry of Defense, they argue that the regulation promoted in 2006 during Nilda Garré's administration created an "atypical" situation regarding modern Western defense systems.
The resolution signed by Presti states that this doctrine:
Fragmented complementary functions
Weakened institutional protection
Limited prevention capabilities
Made the system vulnerable to external actors
The Government believes that for nearly two decades, the Armed Forces lacked adequate tools to respond to:
Foreign espionage
Infiltrations
Sabotage
Cyberattacks
Psychological operations
International terrorism
Hezbollah, Hamas, and hybrid threats
The official text explicitly mentions the growth of terrorist organizations such as:
Hezbollah
Hamas
Additionally, the Government warns about interference operations driven by foreign powers such as:
China
Russia
According to Defense, the new threats combine:
