Today, September 24th, we commemorate another anniversary of the Battle of Tucumán in 1812. This battle, led by General Manuel Belgrano at the head of the Army of the North, was decisive in consolidating the May Revolution and halting the royalist advance in what is now Argentine territory.

Despite being outnumbered and disobeying the orders of the Triumvirate, Belgrano stood out as a bold and strategic leader. After the Jujuy Exodus, in which the people abandoned their lands to deprive the enemy of resources, the Army of the North traveled more than 360 kilometers to reach Tucumán. There, he found the unconditional support of the population, who pledged to fight for the cause of independence.

On September 24th, at Campo de las Carreras, patriots and royalists clashed in a battle that marked history. Belgrano's military cunning and the courage of his men were decisive: a fire in the grasslands, set by then-Lieutenant Gregorio Aráoz de Lamadrid, served to disorient the forces of royalist Brigadier Pío Tristán and give the Creole troops an advantage.

The victory in Tucumán not only saved the Revolution at a critical moment, but also reaffirmed the Argentine people's desire to be free and sovereign. It was a fundamental step towards the Declaration of Independence in 1816.

Today we remember the patriotic legacy of Manuel Belgrano and all those who, with courage, commitment, and hope, fought to build an independent nation.