Argentina to Swap China Tech in US$13.9 Million US Plan
TECHNOLOGY · ARGENTINA
Key Facts
- —The country Argentina, governed since December 2023 by President Javier Milei of La Libertad Avanza, a libertarian economist who has made close alignment with Washington the centre of his foreign policy.
- —Why it matters A US State Department funding call says Argentina asked for help to move its government networks away from Chinese-made equipment and build a national cyber defence centre.
- —Why now Argentine outlets reported the plan on Saturday 10 October. Applications for the US money close on Friday 16 October, and work could begin in mid-November.
- —What happened The State Department’s Bureau of Emerging Threats offers one award of US$13,912,185 over about 36 months for advisory support to the new centre.
- —The numbers Four phases: assess (months 1 to 6), build (7 to 18), operate (19 to 30) and hand over (31 to 36). Argentina is expected to pay for most hardware and software itself.
- —What it means for you US cybersecurity firms gain a door into Argentine public contracts. Investors get a clearer signal of Buenos Aires choosing Washington over Beijing on technology.
- —Still open No award has been announced. Argentina has not secured money for equipment, and local reports cite no official Argentine or Chinese reaction.
Argentina cybersecurity policy is turning towards Washington. A US State Department funding call offers US$13.9 million to help Buenos Aires build a national cyber defence centre. It also targets Chinese-made equipment in government networks.
The document, first reported in Argentina on Saturday 10 October, says the Milei government itself requested the help. For US companies and investors, it is the clearest written sign yet that Argentina is choosing American technology over Chinese suppliers.
The State Department posted the call on Thursday 10 September. Applications close on Friday 16 October, and the anticipated start date is Monday 16 November.
What the US Document Says
The call comes from the State Department’s Bureau of Emerging Threats, which handles threats to critical infrastructure, cyberspace and new technologies. Its Office of Critical Infrastructure Security would oversee the programme.
It offers a single cooperative agreement worth exactly US$13,912,185. The money comes from fiscal 2024 and 2025 Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act. The notice says it is subject to available funds.
The goal is a “centralized, civilian-led national Cybersecurity Operations Center.” It would detect and respond to attacks on Argentine government networks and critical infrastructure. Such centres watch networks for intrusions and coordinate the response when one occurs.
The background section is blunt. It says the Government of Argentina “has requested U.S. Government assistance” for “a structured transition to trusted technology.” It also describes a “deliberate transition away from untrusted foreign digital infrastructure suppliers.”
China is named directly. The plan’s second phase expects the centre’s design to be checked “as China-origin equipment displacement progresses.” The notice also cites the “Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine,” which aims to deny rival powers footholds in the hemisphere’s infrastructure.
How the Argentina Cybersecurity Centre Would Be Built
The notice sets out four phases over about three years. In months one to six, advisers would assess government networks and data centres, including any remaining “untrusted equipment.”
From month seven to 18, the centre’s monitoring software and network sensors would be installed. Argentine analysts would then take over incident response between months 19 and 30. The final six months hand the centre fully to Argentine staff.
The advisers would also recommend how to remove, isolate or otherwise neutralise suspect equipment with minimal disruption. Training includes a train-the-trainer programme so Argentina no longer needs US instructors.
A questions-and-answers file attached to the call adds an important limit. Argentina is responsible for buying the hardware, software licences and running costs. Applicants “should not assume” Argentina has secured that money, the State Department wrote.
Several organisations have already asked questions, including the Pan American Development Foundation, PwC Argentina, George Mason University and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The winner would sign with the State Department, with the Argentine government as beneficiary.
How Argentina Reported the Plan
TN, Perfil and the news agency Noticias Argentinas reported the plan on Saturday. Perfil, citing the agency, described the project as still in its design stage.
The Santa Fe daily El Litoral struck a more cautious note. It wrote that the call alone does not confirm the funds have been awarded. Nor, it added, does it prove Argentina has ordered a general removal of Chinese equipment or set a replacement timetable.
That caution matters. The State Department document is the only primary source so far. Perfil and El Litoral cite the US notice, not an Argentine government statement on the Argentina cybersecurity plan.
The timing fits a wider pattern of Milei deepening ties with President Donald Trump. Related coverage: Argentina Gets US Anti-Drug Unit and US$13.35 Million.
What It Means for You
For US cybersecurity and network firms, the programme opens a path into Argentine public-sector work. The notice says it seeks to open “opportunities for trusted U.S. technology providers.”
For investors, the Argentina cybersecurity programme is another marker of where Buenos Aires stands between Washington and Beijing. El Litoral noted that Beijing rejects US claims that its technology poses security risks, so any equipment swap may test relations.
For ordinary visitors and residents, nothing changes now. Government websites and services run as before. A stronger national cyber centre could, over time, make public systems harder to disrupt.
For more on how Argentina balances its big partners, see Argentina Foreign Powers and Investors in 2026.
What Is Not Known
It is not known which Argentine agency would run the centre, or which Chinese-made equipment is in government networks today. The notice does not name companies.
It is also unclear how Argentina will pay for the hardware, how long any replacement would take, or what it would cost. The US award has not been made.
Finally, local reports cite no reaction yet from the Casa Rosada or the Chinese embassy in Buenos Aires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Argentina removing all Chinese technology from the state?
Not confirmed. A US State Department notice describes a transition away from China-origin equipment in government networks. No Argentine timetable or full removal order has been published.
How much is the United States paying?
The notice offers one award of US$13,912,185 over about 36 months for advisory support and training. Argentina is responsible for funding the hardware, software licences and running costs, though applicants may propose limited technology purchases.
When does the programme start?
Applications close on Friday 16 October 2026. The State Department lists Monday 16 November 2026 as the anticipated start date, subject to an award and available funds.
Sources: US State Department, Bureau of Emerging Threats, funding opportunity DFOP0019791 (Grants.gov); Perfil; El Litoral; TN; Noticias Argentinas.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief