PERSPECTIVE Southern Latin American Multilateralism? Argentina on the Security Council, 2013–2014 CARLA MAJDALANI May 2013 nn Argentina’s vision of multilateralism is characterized by a quest for balance between state sovereignty and the responsibility of the international community to ensure the observance of a minimum standard of principles such as human rights. nn Four elements may influence the country’s performance on the UN-SC: 1) a strong questioning of multilateral credit organizations and demand for their reform, 2) the search for new markets due to a delicate economic financial situation, 3) a focus on Latin America as a priority, 4) the resolution of the Malvinas(Falklands) issue. nn The Malvinas issue is one of significant political importance on which the govern­ment might capitalize on the Council in 2013 – an election year in Argentina, one marking 180 years of the islands’ occupation by Britain and thirty years after the return to democracy. nn The surprising agreement with Iran to investigate the Argentine-Israeli Mutual As­sociation(AMIA) bombing raises questions about a possible change in Argentina’s position with respect to international terrorism. It opens up the possibility that the country will soften its critical tone with regards to Iran on the UN-SC. nn It is possible to infer that Argentina will seek to position itself as a prominent Latin American voice with regards to the global agenda. Argentina’s relationship with Brazil is of particular interest since the latter has expressed its desire to obtain a permanent Security Council seat, which Argentina opposes.