16 February 2000
Michael Hardin, former CIA Senior Analyst on missile proliferation, identifies the Cóndor's termination as the foremost missile nonproliferation success to date, and offers a technical overview of the program. His public address before the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC, is reviewed and approved by the CIA's Publication Review Board, and presumably represents the Agency's best understanding that can be provided in an unclassified form. Hardin says, "the most successful and significant case study of missile nonproliferation is that of the Cóndor II SRBM (a.k.a. Vector and Badr 2000). This multi-billion dollar program was a direct derivative of the US Pershing 2, and was in development in Argentina, Egypt, and Iraq but had never reached the flight-test phase of development." Hardin notes that, "although the Cóndor II was designed with a solid-propellant first stage similar to that of the US Pershing 2, a liquid-propellant second-stage was designed based on an upper stage of an Ariane SLV engine. This original Cóndor II solid/liquid configuration had many of the same problems as the Indian Agni I MRBM and a solid-propellant second stage was also designed for the Cóndor II. The new solid-propellant second-stage approach significantly increased the overall system cost and development time as different staging and thrust termination technology had also to be designed or obtained and flight-tested—a phase never reached." Hardin also says, "the Cóndor II/Badr 2000 was designed as a mobile two-stage missile with a separating unitary or submunitions dispensing, re-entry vehicle that would have been more difficult to detect and intercept than the several SCUD variants actually used by Iraq. The Cóndor II was also the basis for even larger MRBM, ICBM and SLV designs. History shows that the most economical way to defend against a missile attack is to ensure that the offensive missile system never reaches the production/deployment phase." [Note: A source interviewed by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) refutes Hardin's assertion that the Cóndor II was a derivative of the Pershing 2, stating that the only similarities were "shared ideas on guidance and hardware."]
—Michael Hardin, "Missile Defense and Missile Non-Proliferation: The Interactions," remarks before the Proliferation Roundtable at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 16 February 2000, <http://www.ceip.org/files/events/Roundtable21600Hardin.asp?>; CNS interview with missile engineer familiar with technical dimensions of Argentine missile program. Source wishes to remain anonymous.

17 February 2000
Varotto states that National Space Activities Commission (CONAE) has begun planning finance and engineering of the New Generation Space Vehicle (VENG).
—"Financian cohete para lanzar satélites," 17 February 2000, Nueva Era, <http://www.nuevaera.com.ar/2000/02/17/nac/nn03.htm>.

23 February 2000
Israeli and US intelligence sources reportedly believe that Egypt has transferred missile technology to North Korea, which Egypt originally acquired through the Cóndor missile program.
—Steve Rodan, "Israel, USA Claim Egyptian Missile Links with N. Korea," Jane's Defence Weekly, 23 February 2000.

July 2000
The Ministry of Defense and Lockheed Martin reach a second contract on A-4 refurbishment in Córdoba for the period July 2000-June 2005.
—Ministerio de Defensa, República Argentina, "Contrato 2 entre Ministerio de Defensa y Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina SA," undated, <http://www.mindef.gov.ar/contrato_02.htm>; "Reflotan el contrato con la Lockheed," Clarín, 28 June 2000, <http://www.clarin.com/diario/2000-06-28/p-01301.htm>.

14 May 2001
US and European intelligence sources report that Egypt is continuing efforts to in its missile program. The sources report that Egypt has obtained components from Germany via North Korea to develop the 450km Project T missile, the 900km Al Bader [Badr 2000], and the 1200km Vector missile.
—Steve Rodan, [no title], Middle East Newsline, 14 May 2001, <http://www.menewsline.com/>.

30 September 2001
A secret witness reported to be a former Iranian intelligence official gives testimony at the Argentine Embassy in Mexico. The official identified as "witness C" alleges that then President Carlos Menem accepted a $10 million bribe from the Iranian government to state that there was no evidence of Iranian involvement in the AMIA bombing. "Witness C" further alleges that a member of Menem's inner circle visited Iran after the attack and urged Iran to "lower its public profile in Argentina while increasing commercial activity." [Note: In the four years following the attack, Argentine exports to Iran increase by almost 200%, while Argentina's exports to the rest of the world increased only 52%.]
—Miguel Bonasso, "Un silencio de diez millones: Las estremecedoras declaraciones del testigo secreto iraní," Pagina 12, 30 September 2001, <http://www.pagina12.com>.

December 2003
Delegates from Argentina and Russia met to discuss the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. While both states called for a universal ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, they also stressed the need for a global regime for missile nonproliferation based on a legally binding accord. They also noted that the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation would be an important precursor to such a development.
--"Russia, Argentina Call for Diplomacy to Tackle International Crises", BBC Monitoring International Reports, 17 December 2003, Lexis-Nexis.

May 2004
The Argentine Judiciary began an investigation of an alleged shipment of three surface-to-air missiles through northern Argentina (Pocitos area) into the Tri-Border area. These weapons, which could be used to attack U.S. aircraft, were reportedly trafficked in a third-party sale by a customs agent, a Bolivian general involved in arms trafficking, and some Arab citizens.
--"Argentina: Alleged Shipment of Missiles to Tri-Border Area Being Checked", BBC Monitoring International Reports, 26 May 2004, Lexis-Nexis.

March 2005
In the course of discussions in Buenos Aires with Argentine Defense Minister Jose Pampuro, U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld commented on the United States' concern over shoulder-fired missiles in Nicaragua. Rumsfeld discussed this issue, apparently, in order to garner greater support from Argentina on missile control measures.
--"Rumsfeld in Argentina to Discuss Haiti, Missiles", Agence France Presse, 22 March 2005, Lexis-Nexis.

	Updated September 2005