Official relations between Germany and Argentina have existed since 1857, when the Treaty of Friendship, Trade and Shipping was signed between the two countries or, to be more precise, between the German Customs Union and the Argentine Confederation. Bilateral relations have a broad basis in business, science and culture and are characterised by similar positions on important multilateral issues. Along with Brazil and Mexico, Argentina is one of the three countries representing Latin America in the G20 group of major industrialised countries and emerging economies.

In Latin America, Argentina is Germany’s fourth most important trading partner (after Mexico, Brazil and Chile). Germany’s principal imports from Argentina are raw materials and food. Germany is the biggest buyer of Argentine beef in the EU. Vehicles and vehicle parts account for an important part of German imports from the country. When it comes to German exports to Argentina, industrial products are to the fore.

Political and economic relations are supported by a strong network of cultural ties forged to a large extent by Argentines with German roots, of whom there are approximately one million. However, the positive attitude towards Germany extends well beyond this network.

The branches of the Goethe-Institut in Buenos Aires and Córdoba, as well as two branches of the Goethe-Zentrum and nine other cultural societies, are helping to shape German cultural relations policy on the ground. As part of its Schools: Partners for the Future initiative (PASCH), Germany supports a total of 30 schools in the country, at which the teaching of German as a foreign language enjoys particular prominence. In turn, the four German schools abroad in Greater Buenos Aires are among the most highly regarded private schools in the country.

Germany also enjoys an excellent reputation in Argentina as a partner in academia and science. Cooperation in science and technology has a long tradition dating back many years (framework agreement of 31 March 1969). Beacon projects include the German-Argentine Centre for Higher Education (DAHZ), the Max Planck Partner Institute for Biomedical Research and the Argentine-German Geodetic Observatory (AGGO).