Argentina’s President-elect Javier Milei visits the grave of Rabbi Schneerson at the Jewish Cemetery of Montefiore, east of New York. EFE/Ángel ColmenaresAngel Colmenares Ángel Colmenares (EFE)
“My allies are the United States, Israel and the free world,” Argentine president-elect Javier Milei likes to say. His first international destination after defeating the Peronist Sergio Massa in the elections was New York and from there he traveled to Washington this Monday, in a turbulent journey that mixed diplomatic, commercial and spiritual relations. The aim is to “explain the economic plan” that the new government will implement when it takes office on December 10, according to reports from La Libertad Avanza (LLA), the far-right party led by Milei.
In the American capital, the future president is planning a meeting with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. He will also pass through the White House, but will not see US President Joe Biden, with whom he spoke on the phone five days after his election victory.
The president will not be in Washington to attend former first lady Rosalynn Carter’s funeral in Georgia and attend a series of economic events in Colorado, according to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. However, he will be received by National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and possibly other senior officials from that presidential panel. Kirby did not specify whether among them might be Juan González, who is responsible for policy towards Latin America in that institution.
“Unfortunately the president will not be able to see (Milei) as he will be traveling around the country. But we definitely want to continue to look for opportunities to work with Argentina,” Kirby said. There is interest in the democratic government to listen to the elected head of state: “Argentina is a dynamic partner on this continent on many issues. “We look forward to hearing the president-elect’s ideas and seeing where he wants to go on policy issues and ensuring we keep the lines of communication open.”
In the phone call last Friday, Milei and Biden agreed “on the importance of continuing to build strong bilateral relationships,” according to a statement from the White House.
On this first trip after his election victory, his sister and right-hand woman Karina Milei travels with the next president; future chief of staff Nicolás Posse; businessman Gerardo Werthein, a personal friend of Bill Clinton and rumored to be the next Argentine ambassador to Washington; the former Macrista finance minister and possible economy minister in the new cabinet, Luis Caputo; communications strategist Santiago Caputo and US Ambassador to Argentina Mark Stanley.
Once they landed on American soil, the delegation headed to the grave of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, better known as “the Lubavitcher Rebbe.” It is a holy place for Judaism, which Milei had previously visited to ask for his blessing to be elected president of Argentina. “This blessing has come true,” Milei told the Israeli newspaper Kfar Chabad days ago.
According to the agenda released by the LLA, Milei was scheduled to meet with former President Bill Clinton as well as investors and Wall Street bankers before flying to Washington to meet with IMF authorities. Argentina received a large loan of $44 billion from this organization in 2018, but was unable to repay it on time even after renegotiating the terms.
In a first telephone conversation with the director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, Milei explained the cornerstones of his economic plan: a tough budget adjustment to balance public finances, a monetary reform that prohibits the issuing of the Central Bank, as well as the reform and reduction of the state. “The fund has worked together to find the structural solutions that Argentina needs,” he reported on the statement days ago.
During the election campaign, Milei made it clear that Argentina’s diplomatic relations would take a drastic turn if he came to power. Despite ideological differences with Democrat Joe Biden, Milei has shown his willingness to join the United States and distance himself from the government of China, which he rejects “as communist.” His position contrasts with the close ties that current Argentine President Alberto Fernández maintains with both powers.
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