Editing Foreign relations of Argentina (section)

=== Menem Presidency ===
Early on in the administration of President [[Carlos Menem]] (1989–1999), Argentina restored diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom and developed a strong partnership with the United States. It was at this time that Argentina left the [[Non-Aligned Movement]] and adopted a policy of "automatic alignment" with the United States. In 1990, Menem's Foreign Minister, [[Guido di Tella]], memorably pronounced the U.S.–Argentine alliance to be a "carnal relationship."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1380688/Guido-di-Tella.html | newspaper=The Telegraph | title=Guido di Tella | date=8 January 2002 | access-date=4 January 2019 }}</ref>
[[File:ARA Almirante Brown D 10 (cropped).jpg|thumb|240px|Argentine destroyer ''Almirante Brown'' leads a formation into the [[Persian Gulf]], 1991. President [[Carlos Menem]]'s decision to send a token presence into the [[Gulf War]] earned him a close alliance with U.S. President [[George H. W. Bush]].]]

Argentina was the only Latin American country to participate in the 1991 [[Gulf War]] and all phases of the [[Haiti]] operation. It has contributed to United Nations [[peacekeeping]] operations worldwide, with Argentine soldiers/engineers and police/Gendarmerie serving in [[El Salvador]]–[[Honduras]]–[[Nicaragua]] (where Navy patrol boats painted white were deployed), [[Guatemala]], Ecuador–[[Peru]], [[Western Sahara]], Angola, [[Kuwait]], Cyprus, [[Croatia]], Kosovo, [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]] and [[East Timor]].

In recognition of its contributions to international security and peacekeeping, U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]] designated Argentina as a [[major non-NATO ally]] in January 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/intlrel/hfa44953.000/hfa44953_0.htm|title=Overview of U.S. Policy Toward South America and the President's Upcoming Trip to the Region|website=commdocs.house.gov}}</ref> The country is currently of two in Latin America that hold this distinction, the other being Brazil.

At the United Nations, Argentina supported United States policies and proposals, among them the condemnations of Cuba on the issue of human rights, and the fight against international terrorism and narcotics trafficking. In November 1998, Argentina hosted the United Nations conference on [[climate change]], and in October 1999 in Berlin, became one of the first nations worldwide to adopt a voluntary [[greenhouse gas]] [[emissions target]].

Argentina also became a leading advocate of [[nuclear proliferation|non-proliferation]] efforts worldwide. After trying to develop nuclear weapons during the [[National Reorganization Process|1976 military dictatorship]], Argentina scrapped the project with the return of democratic rule in 1983, and became a strong advocate of non-proliferation efforts and the peaceful use of nuclear technologies.

Since the return of democracy, Argentina has also turned into strong proponent of enhanced regional stability in South America, the country revitalized its relationship with Brazil; and during the 1990s (after signing the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and Argentina) settled lingering border disputes with [[Chile]]; discouraged military takeovers in Ecuador and [[Paraguay]]; served with the United States, Brazil and Chile as one of the four guarantors of the Ecuador–Peru peace process. Argentina's reputation as a mediator was damaged, however, when President Menem and some members of his cabinet were accused of approving the illegal sale of weapons to Ecuador and to [[Croatia]].

In 1998, President Menem made a state visit to the United Kingdom, and the Prince of Wales reciprocated with a visit to Argentina. In 1999, the two countries agreed to normalize travel to the [[Falkland Islands]] ({{langx|es|link=no|Islas Malvinas}}) from the mainland and resumed direct flights.

In the 1990s, Argentina was an enthusiastic supporter of the [[Summit of the Americas]] process, and chaired the [[Free Trade Agreement of the Americas]] (FTAA) initiative.