Argentina's Milei to meet Biden aide after lunch with Bill Clinton
ReutersNov 30, 2023
Argentina's Milei Meets Top US Officials, Seeks IMF Reset
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The Facts
Argentine President-elect Javier Milei met with senior US officials on Tuesday as his economic advisers held talks with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) team in Washington to win support for Milei's plans to boost Argentina's struggling economy. His two-day trip comes ahead of his Dec.10 inauguration.
The libertarian stated he had "very comfortable" talks with the US national security advisor Jake Sullivan and Latin America advisor Juan González, in which Argentina's economic and social situation was discussed. He added that his foreign policy would consist of "alignment with the US and Israel."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The fact that his first trip as president-elect took him to the US illustrates the significance Milei attaches to bilateral relations with the US. In terms of foreign policy, Milli has made it clear that he's standing firmly on the side of the West and Israel. During his election campaign, he also pledged to distance himself from China and reject Argentina's BRICS membership. For the free world and Latin America, Milei's election is a positive signal and the US should support this.
Establishment-critical narrative
Pres. Joe Biden snubbing of this visit indicates that his administration has mixed feelings about deepening ties with a pro-Trump leader. Thus, it's not surprising that Milei has adopted a more moderate tone towards Beijing — Argentina's second-largest trading partner and the country's largest market for agricultural products — in contrast to his populist anti-Chinese comments during his campaign. The world is changing and it would be foolish of Milei to jeopardize relations with China, especially as support from the US always comes with a cost.