From F-16s to NATO, Argentina’s moves tilt West, but ties to China to last

By   WILDER ALEJANDRO SANCHEZ – Breaking defense

The surprise decision by Argentina to seek a rare partner status with NATO, coupled with Buenos Aires’s recent choice of Dutch F-16s for its next fighter fleet over Chinese rivals, appears to have handed the West some clear victories in a tug of war with Beijing over influence in the South American nation. But analysts told Breaking Defense the game is long, and China has many cards — especially economic and commercial ones — still in hand.