Argentina Declares Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Organization

Argentina has officially designated branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations, marking a major shift in the country’s counterterrorism policy under President Javier Milei and aligning Buenos Aires with a growing list of countries taking similar action.

In a statement released on Thursday, Milei’s government confirmed that the Muslim Brotherhood’s chapters in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon have been added to Argentina’s Public Registry of Persons and Entities Linked to Acts of Terrorism and Their Financing (RePET).

The move came just one day after the United States announced comparable designations and places Argentina alongside Israel, the U.S., Paraguay, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt in treating the group as a terrorist entity.

According to the presidency, the decision is part of a broader effort to strengthen national security and reinforce Argentina’s international commitments to combating terrorism and its financing. Officials said the designation was made in compliance with national law and global counterterrorism standards.

The government cited intelligence and security reports alleging that the listed branches were involved in transnational illicit activities, including acts classified as terrorism, public advocacy of violent extremism, and operational or financial ties to other groups already designated as terrorist organizations. Authorities warned that such links could pose direct or indirect security risks to Argentina.

By adding the Brotherhood chapters to RePET, the government aims to improve prevention and early detection mechanisms, restrict financial flows, and impose sanctions designed to disrupt extremist networks. The process was coordinated across multiple state institutions, including the presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Security, the Justice Ministry, and the Secretariat of Intelligence.

Milei’s administration described the move as consistent with Argentina’s broader security strategy and its commitment to international counterterrorism cooperation. The presidency also pointed to earlier steps, such as the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization and measures targeting other transnational criminal groups, as evidence of a tougher stance on security threats.

Founded in Egypt in 1928, the Muslim Brotherhood was banned in its home country in 2013. Saudi Arabia followed in 2014, labeling the group a terrorist organization and citing concerns over national security and regional stability. Argentina’s latest decision reflects a continuation of that trend, signaling Buenos Aires’ intention to play a more assertive role in global counterterrorism efforts.