Meeting with Dom nguez in December 1998, Cohen said the United States is working to provide the equipment that will be helpful to Argentina in carrying out its peacekeeping operations around the world. Indeed, Argentina whose MNNA status affords it priority access to EDA led the hemisphere in EDA deliveries in 1998. State Department estimates project Argentina s FMS agreements to increase steadily in 1999 and 2000. In 1998, the State Department Congressional Presentation notes, the Argentine armed forces initiated procurement of almost 100 U.S.-manufactured armored vehicles to equip their peacekeeping forces. Eight were shipped from the United States, and the remainder are being finished at a Lockheed factory in C rdoba, Argentina.
Programs continue today, using money committed during previous years.
The task force has twenty members, a mix of provincial police and Gendarmer a. U.S. assistance for the task force includes equipment, vehicles and training. U.S. Customs and Coast Guard personnel also train Argentine law enforcement agencies to inspect both port and river cargo. These courses also provide increased inter-operability with U.S. and NATO forces, which is increasingly important as Argentina expands its worldwide peacekeeping activities. IMET also plays a key role in the development of civilian defense experts who can administer effectively the defense establishment. 16 U.S. Special Forces planned three JCET exercises in Argentina in 1998, though one was cancelled.