Argentina India Relations: Trade, Agreements, Recent Developments - UPSC Notes

India’s ties with Argentine Republic have grown stronger through consistent diplomatic and strategic engagement. As a major power in the South America / Americas, Argentine Republic contributes actively to shaping global geopolitics and security dynamics. India established diplomatic ties with Argentine Republic in 1949, setting the stage for a lasting and multifaceted partnership. India and Argentine Republic sustain a Embassies in New Delhi and Buenos Aires, with each country’s embassy in the other’s capital facilitating strategic communication. The India-Argentine Republic relationship is of Strategic Partner, G20 member, key South American nation, with defense collaboration, economic partnerships, cultural interactions, and aligned global security priorities forming key components. 

• The cooperation between India and Argentine Republic thrives in Trade, agriculture, energy, mining, defence, space, nuclear energy like defense, nuclear energy, trade, space exploration, oil and gas, cybersecurity, culture, and education. 
• Several significant agreements in areas such as Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, Space Cooperation (2009), Defence Cooperation MoU (2019), Lithium Exploration MoUs (2022, 2024, 2025), Social Security Agreement (2023) have been signed between India and Argentine Republic to promote cooperation. 
• India and Argentine Republic maintain a trade volume of USD 52 billion (2024), illustrating their growing economic partnership. 
• India’s export ties with Argentine Republic are driven by goods like Petroleum oils, agrochemicals, yarn-fabric-made ups, organic chemicals, bulk drugs, and two-wheelers, which support long-term trade relations. 
• India and Argentine Republic maintain strong trade ties, with Soybean oil, sunflower oil, gold, cereals, finished leather being among the main imports. 

Strong ties in IT, space, nuclear energy cooperation ITEC, cultural centers help India and Argentine Republic boost academic links and technological development together. This write-up on Argentina India Relations comprehensively covers Strategic Engagements, Indian Diaspora Contributions, and Diaspora Remittances, relevant for both GS Mains and PSIR Optional preparation. 

Argentina India Relations Establishment of Diplomatic Ties

India and Argentine Republic share a history that began with Trade Commission (1943), Embassy (1949), shared democratic values. Historic visits such as Argentine Presidents (Kirchner 2009, Macri 2019), Indian PMs (Rao 1995, Modi 2018) have helped shape the strategic partnership between India and Argentine Republic. 

• The diplomatic journey between India and Argentine Republic comprises stages such as Early ties, strengthened post-Cold War, Strategic Partnership (2019).

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Strategic & Political Cooperation of Argentina India Relations

India and Argentine Republic have a Strategic Partner, G20 member, key South American nation relationship, with defense ties, economic cooperation, cultural diplomacy, and joint security goals playing a central role. 

• Through MoU (2019), military training, joint exercises, industrial partnership, both India and Argentine Republic build strong military partnerships to defend common interests and improve regional security. 
• Cooperation in multilateral forums against global challenges helps India and Argentine Republic protect their citizens through joint monitoring and timely information exchange. 
• India and Argentine Republic pursue Joint Declaration on ICT cooperation (2019) initiatives that promote digital safety, secure infrastructure, and technological cooperation. 
• India’s participation in G20, UN, shared Global South perspectives, Mercosur engagement enhances cooperation with Argentine Republic and supports collective solutions to global problems. 
• India and Argentine Republic enhance Oil, gas (LNG), lithium exploration, renewable energy through mutual investments in energy infrastructure, clean technologies, and green initiatives. 
• India and Argentine Republic are dedicated to advancing Agreement (2009), ISRO-CONAE Joint Committee meetings through collaborative research, technological innovation, and joint exploration activities. 
• India and Argentine Republic have joined hands in sectors like MoU on Tourism Cooperation (2019), potential for growth to encourage seamless connectivity and tourism collaboration. 
• India and Argentine Republic are enhancing economic cooperation through Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) in force, DTAA discussions designed to avoid double taxation and support trade.

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Trade and Economic Overview of Argentina India Relations

• In order to deepen bilateral relations, India and Argentine Republic have committed to agreements in key areas such as Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, Space Cooperation (2009), Defence Cooperation MoU (2019), Lithium Exploration MoUs (2022, 2024, 2025), Social Security Agreement (2023). 
• India and Argentine Republic have reached a trade volume of USD 52 billion (2024), highlighting the deepening of their economic ties. 
• Investment flows consist of India: USD 1 billion+ (Argentina), Argentina: USD 120 million (India), in addition to mutually beneficial projects and partnerships. 
• Formal platforms such as Joint Commission Meeting (7th in 2024), Foreign Office Consultations, often held annually or biennially, promote and review bilateral trade and investment cooperation between India and its partner country. 
• India received goods from Argentine Republic amounting to USD 295 billion (2023, Argentina's exports to India). 
• India’s trade with Argentine Republic includes key exports like Petroleum oils, agrochemicals, yarn-fabric-made ups, organic chemicals, bulk drugs, and two-wheelers, which form a large share of trade flows. 

Argentine Republics import volume from India has been recorded at USD 99631 million (2023, Argentina's imports from India). Indian businesses active in Argentine Republic include TCS, Infosys, UPL, Bajaj, TVS, Godrej, KABIL, spanning manufacturing, IT, and services.

Socio-Cultural & Diaspora Engagement

Through the powerful presence of their diaspora, India and Argentine Republic collaborate effectively, reinforcing Business, professionals, cultural bridge, long-standing community in Salta. Through Yoga, meditation, film festivals, dance, music, strong following, India and the other country share traditions and build friendly relations. Students and institutions in India and the partner country are working together through ITEC program, university collaborations, scientific and technological exchanges. 

• The cultural and economic bond between India and Argentine Republic is reinforced by the significant presence of the Indian-origin community. 
• India and Argentine Republic employ Defence ties, cultural diplomacy, yoga, shared democratic values as a means to solidify their geopolitical positioning and expand their influence globally.

Argentina India Relations Recent Developments

Continued momentum in India–Argentine Republic relations is visible through consistent Argentine Foreign Minister (Oct 2024), Indian PM (Nov 2024, G20) by senior leaders. The scope of MoUs on Lithium (2024, 2025), YPF-Indian PSU MoU (Energy) (2025) illustrates a continued focus on critical sectors such as health, mobility, and renewable energy. 

• A range of developmental activities fall under Lithium exploration (KABIL, MECL), hydrocarbon cooperation (YPF-OVL), highlighting shared goals. 
• Strategic cooperation is sometimes hindered by challenges like Argentine economic instability, geographical distance, trade imbalances. 
• Long-term engagement strategies reflect positive Deepening strategic partnership, expanding trade, energy, mining ties between the two partners.

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UPSC Relevance of Argentina India Relations

• Key agreements, high-level visits, and organizations like SCO, BRICS, or UN involving Argentine Republic are often tested in the prelims.
• India–Argentine Republic relations are integral to GS Paper 2 (International Relations) under bilateral, regional, and global groupings.
• Diaspora support, humanitarian aid, and cultural diplomacy demonstrate ethical foreign engagement.
• History optional students may refer to ancient or colonial connections between India and Argentine Republic.