Buying the JF-17 would be a terrible mistake for Argentina.
Diplomatically they would be seen to be effectively taking China’s “side”, earning the suspicion and potentially outright hostility of the US. Potentially not absolutely the worst thing from a purely regional or domestic political perspective but really quite a bad idea given their current economic woes.
Plus apparently not at all aligned with their new president’s views?
And Argentina would be buying what objectively would be a rather dubious proposition; China doesn’t have many export customers for its non-MIG-21 derived fighter types so not much of a track record and, to be blunt, the JF-17 isn’t even a particularly good aircraft, not as good as a FA-50 or LCA, inferior to a new production or latest upgraded F-16 or Gripen A-D, yet alone versus Rafales or Gripen E-F or other more capable aircraft. Certainly not remotely worth the certain diplomatic hassle or potential operational uncertainties that would be associated with such a decision.
Anyone seriously advocating such a course of action is either seriously misjudging the relative qualities of the aircraft or is just blinded by the idea of having/ desperation to have “something”/ “anything”.
And given Argentina’s current serious economic problems it’s hard to see the decision being not to kick the can further down the road and not ordering anything (not a good time to be looking for the money for any of these options).
The most obvious productive course would be Argentina looking to actually improve its relations with the UK (i.e. create scope for the UK veto to be relaxed) plus with potential providers of objectively better equipment (with fewer unfortunate consequences) when the opportunity does come around for affording the purchase of combat aircraft (i.e. with the US, Sweden, France, South Korea, India etc).
