Argentina and the United States signed a new cooperation agreement that includes joint patrol operations in the Argentine Sea as part of the “Protecting Global Commons Program,” a name that sparked concerns among critics over potential sovereignty issues.

Earlier this week, the Argentine Navy and the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command signed an intention letter to launch the five-year-long cooperation program, opening the door to unprecedented foreign military presence in the area.

This will allow Argentina to “fortify its vigilance and control capabilities over the South Atlantic” by incorporating new technology, operational skills, and training for the local navy, the Argentine Defense Ministry said in a statement announcing the deal.

The ministry’s communiqué came two days after the U.S. Embassy in Argentina announced the launch of the deal. However, the message did not include the program’s controversial name.

Only the embassy’s statement included the Argentine Sea as a “global commons.”

🇺🇸🇦🇷 Más fuertes juntos. Más seguros juntos.Estados Unidos y Argentina están lanzando el Protecting Global Commons Program para fortalecer la seguridad marítima en el........

© Buenos Aires Herald