F-16 Fighting Falcon News

October 9, 1997 (by Lieven Dewitte) - President Bill Clinton has given Congress notice that he intends to grant Argentina major non-NATO military ally status on his trip to South America next week.
Earlier this year, the White House lifted a two-decade ban on advanced weapons sales to Latin America to allow U.S. defense contractors to bid for a major contract in Chile, whose Air Force wants to buy two dozens warplanes and is looking at the F-16 made by Lockheed Martin.

In military terms this does not mean a great deal and its symbolic benefits probably outweigh its practical benefits. The status does not give Argentina access to F-16s or any other major weapon systems.