Santiago Caputo, a close advisor to President Javier Milei, is increasingly taking control of key areas within the government, particularly those with significant budget allocations. As discussions unfold about redesigning the State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE), it was announced that the area would be supported by “reserved funds” derived from a budget expansion.
The Argentine president and his full cabinet signed Emergency Decree 656, which allocates around 100 billion pesos to enhance the National Intelligence System to support a new structure that includes the establishment of four new agencies.
These agencies are the Argentine Intelligence Service (SIA), the National Security Agency (ASN), a cybersecurity agency, and the Internal Affairs Division (DAI). This overhaul follows Milei’s decision to dissolve the Federal Intelligence Agency (AFI) last week.
The decree stipulates the “reserved nature” of these funds, which will be disclosed to the Bicameral Committee overseeing emergency decrees in the National Congress. It was argued that publicizing the amount involved could hinder the normal operations of the entities within this system.
Currently, the government is operating under an extended 2023 budget, which did not account for these additional resources. Reports suggest that Caputo’s involvement in this restructuring reflects a deeper connection to the agency’s leadership. He reportedly appointed Sergio Neiffert, a family acquaintance, as the head of the new SIDE.
Neiffert, an engineer with previous roles, including serving as treasurer for the Malvinas Argentinas School Council and representing the national executive in the Matanza River Basin Authority, has raised questions about his suitability for the intelligence role.
The revitalized intelligence structure will consist of the previously mentioned agencies under Neiffert’s leadership, who has been appointed as the interim head of AFI following Silvestre SÃvori’s resignation alongside former Chief of Staff Nicolás Posse.
According to government communications, the SIA will focus on gathering strategic information while collaborating with allied intelligence organizations to prevent threats to Argentina. It will be led by Alejandro Walter Colombo. The Federal Cybersecurity Agency (AFC) will aim to detect and counter cyberattacks aimed at critical infrastructure, providing training to state personnel to enhance security measures, under the direction of Ariel Waissbein.
Meanwhile, the ASN will be responsible for early warning systems concerning complex federal crimes within the country and monitoring threats from criminal and terrorist organizations, headed by retired General Commissioner Alejandro Pablo Cecati.
Finally, the DAI will oversee and audit resource management among agencies operating under SIDE’s domain, ensuring legal and institutional compliance.
However, the revival of SIDE has sparked criticism, particularly regarding amendments to Article 4 bis of Law No. 25,520, which governs intelligence activities. These modifications suggest that intelligence bodies could share information relevant to judicial investigations while preserving sources and methods, reminiscent of past practices where authorities requested judicial approval for wiretaps to gather information on political figures.
Additional contentious issues include a special regime for reinstating retired agents and the budgetary oversight of the National Security Directorate and the National Defense Directorate.
Source: https://www.perfil.com/noticias/politica/santiago-caputo-el-rediseno-de-la-side-y-los-fondos-reservados.phtml
