Argentina to beef up Milei’s security for overseas travel

With the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, Argentina’s government is planning to introduce major changes to President Javier Milei’s security protocol for international travel.

The modifications are to be implemented on his next trip with no official visit abroad on his immediate agenda, according to reporting in several local outlets.

These new security measures will be entrusted to the Casa Militar presidential military staff, which accompanies the President overseas, coordinating operations with overseas agencies. The Milei government plans to increase the number of officers deployed, reviewing existing protocols.

“The Casa Militar must be the visible face, staying close to the President so that he recognises his own people in the middle of the operations, but nobody is more on top of the situation than the people of that country,” said a government source.

Milei normally travels with between three and five Casa Militar bodyguards, who divide their tasks between his accommodation and his activities. Some agents occupy the presidential suite, where they supervise his room in eight-hour shifts.

Also travelling with Milei normally are two doctors from the Presidential Medical Unit, a photographer and his personal bodyguards, Jonathan Salerno and Pablo del Valle. They are responsible for ensuring access to networks are clean, to avoid being hacked. Milei has two mobile phones – one used for wider communication and another to which only 20 people have access.

Until April 2024, the President and other government officials travelled abroad on commercial flights. After an Iranian attack on Israel, however, the Security Ministry sounded the alarm as to risks. Since then, the presidential delegation has flown aboard the aircraft ARG01, Boeing 757-256, the Tango-11 and a Learjet 60.

Adjustments in security measures come in the context of growing tensions in the Middle East, a conflict which Milei has been unafraid to comment on, regularly expressing himself in favour of Israel.

In a recent interview, he even said that “Iran is an enemy” of Argentina, assuring: “Iran has already attacked our nation twice, provoking 114 deaths" – references to the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy and the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community centre.

Milei has received threats in response to his public remarks. Some questionable comments have been made in Iranian media too. In July 2024, the pro-regime Iranian newspaper Tehran Times wrote in an editorial: "Tehran will not forget the anti-Iranian policies of Buenos Aires. But Iran has shown that it does not easily play on the enemy's chess board, but at the right time and right position, it will impose its own game on the enemy and make them regret their enmity with Iran."

There are no plans to make changes to security at the Casa Rosada or the Olivos presidential residence at present, though staff remain vigilant.

Last Monday the presidential residence received a bomb threat but it was ruled out as having been the action of any terrorist organisation. The La Libertad Avanza administration later attributed it to "some idiot calling to make a nuisance."

While the threat was received from a 911 call, leading to a broad sweep along Maipú Avenue, the presidential chalet was not evacuated. The procedure consisted in following the protocol for the inspection of explosives, notifying the pertinent federal judge while Civil Defence personnel examined the external perimeter.

Nevertheless, Argentina’s embassies across the Middle East have reinforced the presence of security staff after the level of presidential risk passed from “low” to “medium” following his latest statements in sync with the United States and Israel.

Although no specific threats have been detected at the moment, the Milei administration considers it opportune to maintain constant vigilance.