Argentina's crucial soybean and maize crops are under severe stress due to persistent dry weather and a recent heatwave, with January rainfall significantly below normal. This threatens to reduce yields for the 2025/2026 season, impacting a key global agricultural exporter. Farmers report visible damage, and meteorologists forecast continued dry conditions into February, raising concerns for global grain and oilseed markets.
Argentina has purchased US$808 million in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from the U.S. Treasury to meet an interest payment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The transaction, reported around February 1-2, 2026, is part of Argentina's ongoing efforts to manage its financial obligations with the multilateral lender.
Argentina's Milei government plans to launch a new National Migration Agency under the Ministry of Security, aiming to bolster border control and combat transnational crime. The initiative follows a reported record number of foreign national expulsions and a tightening of immigration policies.
Argentina's Milei government is creating a new National Migration Agency under the Ministry of Security, replacing the existing Directorate of Migration. This move, inspired by US border policies, aims to enhance border control and has coincided with a reported record number of foreign national expulsions and stricter immigration laws.
President Javier Milei's government is pushing to lower Argentina's age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 13 or 14. The bill, formally incorporated via Decree 53/2026, will be debated in extraordinary sessions of Congress starting February 2, sparking renewed debate over juvenile justice and public safety.
An ETF Airways Boeing 737-800, operating under a wet-lease for Flybondi, sustained serious damage from a severe hailstorm in Cordoba, Argentina, on January 1, 2026. The aircraft, registered as 9A-LAB, has been grounded indefinitely, causing significant flight disruptions for Flybondi.
Argentina's Central Bank (BCRA) has achieved a 19-session dollar-buying streak, accumulating over US$1.134 billion and pushing gross reserves to US$46.24 billion. This marks the highest level since 2021 and a significant milestone for the Milei administration's economic program.
GeoPark Limited has agreed to acquire Frontera Energy's entire Colombian upstream oil and gas exploration and production business for an enterprise value of up to $622 million. The deal, effective January 1, 2026, is set to double GeoPark's production and reserves, establishing it as the largest private oil producer in Colombia and strengthening its regional E&P platform.
Argentina's Milei government will seek Congressional approval to formalize its participation in former US President Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace'. The initiative, launched in January 2026, aims to promote global peacekeeping, initially focusing on Gaza. Argentina is a founding member and was reportedly exempted from a $1 billion membership fee.
India's Welspun Living Ltd. has won a significant US$200 million contract to supply pipes for a crucial liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline in Argentina. This decision, favoring a foreign supplier over local giant Tenaris SA, aligns with President Javier Milei's free-market economic reforms and his administration's push to open up the nation's economy.
A bipartisan US congressional delegation's visit to Ushuaia, Argentina, has sparked criticism from the Peronist opposition, who suspect President Milei is pursuing a joint naval base. The US Embassy stated discussions focused on environmental and economic topics, including critical minerals.
The Argentine government has formally expanded the agenda for extraordinary congressional sessions to include a debate on changes to the juvenile criminal regime. The proposal, backed by Justice Minister Mariano Cúneo Libarona and Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, seeks to lower the age of criminal responsibility from the current 16, with a consensus draft bill aiming for 14 years old.
Recent major wildfires in Argentina's Patagonia region, particularly in Chubut province and Los Alerces National Park, have intensified concerns over the government's significant budget cuts to environmental agencies. Critics highlight a drastic reduction in fire management funds and firefighter numbers under President Javier Milei's administration, impacting prevention and response efforts.
Recent major wildfires in Argentina's Patagonia region, particularly in Chubut province, have destroyed thousands of hectares and reignited criticism over the government's significant budget cuts to environmental agencies and fire management services.
YPF and the government of Río Negro province signed a framework agreement on January 23, 2026, establishing regulatory and institutional cooperation for the Argentina LNG project. The pact grants 30 years of fiscal and regulatory stability, aiming to attract investment and foster local development.
Argentina has won the 2026 South and Central America Men's Handball Championship, defeating rival Brazil 26:25 in a thrilling final held in Asunción, Paraguay. This victory marks Argentina's second title in the competition and secures their spot in the 2027 World Men's Handball Championship.
Human rights organizations in Argentina have issued a stark warning regarding a growing wave of anti-Muslim hate speech and real-life threats. The escalation from online rhetoric to direct threats against families, including women and children, has prompted calls for stronger legal measures to combat incitement and protect vulnerable communities.
Argentine President Javier Milei, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, reiterated his nation's commitment to trade with China, describing it as an 'essential partner.' This stance comes despite significant financial backing from the United States, highlighting Argentina's complex geopolitical and economic balancing act. Milei emphasized that Argentina does not need to choose between the two global powers.
Argentina's Ambassador to France, Ian Sielecki, lodged a diplomatic protest during a French National Assembly hearing on January 22, 2026, by refusing to speak in front of a map depicting the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands as British territory. The disputed area was subsequently covered with a sticky note.
Argentina's financial markets are experiencing a positive trend, with the benchmark Merval index showing a significant year-on-year increase. The Central Bank has actively intervened in the foreign exchange market, accumulating substantial dollar reserves, which, alongside upgrades from major rating agencies, has contributed to a notable improvement in the country's risk rating.
