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Milley rides in tank in Independence Day parade
Milei and Villarruel riding in a newly modified Argentine tank
Argentine President Javier Milley and Vice President Victoria Villarul ride on an army tank during a military parade on Libertador Avenue in Buenos Aires to celebrate the country’s Independence Day. Although such events are rare, heads of state are usually saluted by passing troops rather than being part of the parade. Thousands of people lined the streets to cheer, despite the current economic situation.
Although inflation slowed during Milley’s administration due to drastic spending cuts, the negative impact was a deepening recession, with gross domestic product (GDP) falling 5.1% and unemployment rising.
In addition to active military personnel, the parade also brought in about 3,000 veterans of the 1982 war with Britain over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands in the South Atlantic, wearing uniforms and medals. As they passed, the crowds watched in silence or applauded and shouted “Long live the motherland!”
Their participation was controversial due to Millai’s admiration for former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as a female politician, which also earned him strong criticism, especially from nationalist groups supporting the Malvinas cause.
Milley’s tank is one of six TAMs (Argentine Medium Tanks) that were recently modernized by the Argentine Army’s General Directorate of Research and Development (DIGID) and Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems.
Villarruel posted on X that “Thank you President Javier Milley for embracing all Argentines with our Army, something we needed a long time ago!”, while former Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Cesar Milani wrote on the same social media platform: “These people claim that the Argentine nation is undermined on the TAM (Argentine Medium Tank), which was designed and developed by my government in charge of the Armed Forces. It is the result of an efficient country that cares about its defense. I am proud to see it parade in the streets of our homeland, even though they have to bear the burden.”
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