AIDE-MEMOIRE
Conversation with Ambassador Conrado Solari-Yrigoyen and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs
Committee Bertel Haarder on September 3rd 2021.
-It was a surprise and great sorrow for Argentina to learn of this decision.
-The Argentine government was notified a few hours before the announcement and without
any previous communication between Foreign Ministers.
-The announcement had a significant impact on Argentina. It was widely reported on the front
page of the major newspapers, on radio, television and social networks.
-No clear reasons have been received beyond the mention of budgetary problems.
-This occurs when both countries are celebrating 180 years of bilateral relations (The
agreement was signed on January 20, 1841, with the visit of the frigate Bellona, commanded
by Captain Christian Wulff, who had precise instructions from King Christian VIII).
-Danish citizens arrived in Argentina from the middle of the 19th century until the first decades
of the 20th century, creating a large and most important colony of Danish descendants in the
world. These Danes are considered pioneers in the construction of our Nation. The Argentine
society, forged with a significant migratory contribution, has a great recognition to this
community.
-Argentina has had an embassy in Copenhagen since 1910 and has never closed it.
-Denmark closed its embassy in 2002 and reopened it in 2007. The reopening was attended by
then Prime Minister Anders Fogg Rasmussen.
-Argentina and Denmark do not have any conflicting issues either bilaterally or multilaterally.
On the contrary, it is a relationship based on great consensus.
-Argentina is very mindful of the recent state visit of H.M. Queen Margrethe in March 2019, an
occasion on which she was accompanied by Crown Prince Frederik (Note: Crown Prince
Frederik knows Argentina very well). On that occasion, a business delegation was present, and
cooperation agreements were signed on water resources management and energy efficiency
issues.
-Argentina has about 40 Danish companies, many internationally renowned companies (Novo
Nordisk, Maersk, Vestas, Arla Foods, Coloplast, Danfoss, Grundfos, Novozymes, Ch. Hansen).
-It is to highlight the strong presence in recent years of Vestas. Their wind turbine (60% of the
total number of turbines present in Argentina) has stood out. It is worth remembering that
Argentina initiated a plan (Renov-Ar Plan) to increase renewable energies in its energy matrix,
which only covers 8% of total power. The potential for renewable energies is a very significant
one.
-We can also mention the installation of Arla Foods Ingredients, which produces whey and
exports it from Argentina to dozens of countries.
-Argentina has the third-largest GDP in the region.