President Javier Milei called for the creation of “an alliance of free nations against tyranny and misery” on Wednesday as he welcomed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the Casa Rosada.
Extending an invite to Meloni before the press, Argentina's leader said the grouping would have private property, capitalism and the ideas of freedom as its banner.
Milei, 53, also pushed back against what he described as “the woke virus,” criticising “gender ideology” and noting similarities between his government and the one led by Meloni.
Ours are “like-minded administrations and there is a special relationship between our nations,” said the La Libertad Avanza leader. “We defend free trade, common sense and private property to the letter. We want to recover freedom.”
“In the face of the advances of the woke virus, we call for the values of the Western world and common sense to be highlighted,” he declared.
Meloni, for her part, said the two had agreed at the G20 summit in Brazil to "work together" to draft a joint plan of action for the next five years, focusing on sectors such as energy, infrastructure and transport.
Praising Milei's deregulatory policies and describing the head of state as her “brother,” the right-wing leader said his measures would favour Italian companies in Argentina and open the door to deeper ties.
Outlining an idea briefed to journalists before last week’s visit to see US president-elect Donald Trump in Florida, Argentina’s leader went on to propose the founding of a “league” of right-wing nations to defend private property, capitalism and the ideas of freedom.
Milei’s intention is to emulate the League of Nations, founded in 1920, setting up a new multilateral organisation to promote free-trade treaties and military cooperation between members.
As well as Meloni, he plans to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to join the grouping, along with Trump.
‘Woke virus’
During Wednesday’s press conference, Milei highlighted similarities between the leaders on cultural issues.
"In the face of gender ideology, we stand for the unrestricted right to life and the family. We have something in common in a political and personal dimension, we were elected to courageously address the structural problems of our countries,” said the President.
Milei, meeting Meloni for the fourth time in a year, highlighted his personal bond with the Italian leader, noting that both had been elected to fix specific problems.
“In my case, to put an end to inflation; in Meloni's case, to give an answer to the problem of uncontrolled immigration,” he argued.
“Doing so is not for free. We will bear the consequences, because in the long run we will prevail,” said Milei.
“Today the West is under a blanket of darkness, but victory does not depend on the number of soldiers, but on the forces of heaven,” he concluded, deploying one of his trademark phrases.
Meloni, who described Milei as her “brother,” said “Italy and Argentina are sister nations” with “great potential to exploit.”
Private dinner
The Italian PM landed on Tuesday evening at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery at around 6pm. She was received by the Italian ambassador in Argentina, Fabrizio Lucentini; Argentina’s Deputy Foreign Minister Eduardo Bustamante; and Bettina de Fonseca, the Foreign Ministry’s director for Europe.
President Milei later hosted her for a private dinner at the Quinta de Olivos presidential residence. No pictures were released of the encounter. Meloni later travelled to the capital to stay at the Four Seasons Hotel in Recoleta.
The Fratelli d'Italia leader remained in Argentina Wednesday, where she carried out a limited agenda that included a formal bilateral meet with President Milei.
In the morning, she took part in the traditional wreath-laying service at the Plaza San Martín, accompanied by Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Lucentini, and Argentina’s Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein.
Meloni’s formal visit ends a whirlwind spell of diplomatic activity for Milei. After visiting Trump at the Republican leader’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last week, Argentina’s President rushed back to Buenos Aires to welcome his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, for an official visit.
Milei then travelled to Rio de Janeiro for the G20 Leaders Summit, hosted by Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, for a two-day stopover that included meetings with leaders Xi Jinping (China), Kristalina Georgieva (head of the International Monetary Fund) and Narenda Modi (India).
IMF chief hails ‘impressive progress’
Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, hailed Milei’s “impressive progress” after a meeting on the sidelines of the summit.
“I had another productive meeting with President [Javier] Milei of Argentina. We took stock of the impressive progress made in stabilising the economy and making it more market-oriented,” Georgieva said in a post on social media.
The IMF “stands ready to support Argentina and its people in building on these achievements,” she added.
The progress of Argentina’s US$44-billion loan programme was the focus of discussions, according to local media, while negotiations over a new plan, including fresh funds, is being explored.
– TIMES/NA/PERFIL
