Argentina’s president-elect tells top Biden officials that he’s committed to freedom
WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON (AP) — Argentine President-elect Javier Milei met with senior Biden administration officials at the White House on Tuesday in his first international trip since winning a presidential runoff earlier this month.
Right-wing Milei had a “positive meeting” with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, the president-elect’s office said in a statement. The new Argentine leader’s visit took place while President Joe Biden was away from Washington at a memorial for former first lady Rosalynn Carter in Georgia and then traveled to Colorado.
The statement from Milei’s office said he had “expressed his views on the international geopolitical agenda in line with the West and his commitment to the values of freedom.” It added that Sullivan, speaking on behalf of the administration, “conveyed the willingness of the United States to cooperate with the transition of the new Argentine government, given the challenging political, economic and social conditions facing the country.”
Also present at the event were Juan Gonzalez, senior director of the National Security Council for the Western Hemisphere, Brian Nichols, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, and U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Marc Stanley, according to the statement. meeting on behalf of the Biden administration. at Milei’s office.
Milei made other stops in Washington. On Tuesday, he posted on Instagram a photo of himself and assistants at the Lincoln Memorial.
Milei, a libertarian, won the second presidential election with flying colors on November 19. He is an economist who admires former US President Donald Trump, and has called for deep spending cuts as a way to reduce Argentina’s red-hot inflation, which currently stands at 143% annually. He also wants to replace the Argentine peso with the US dollar as the national currency.
Milei will take office on December 10.
Luis Caputo, a former finance minister who is being discussed as a possible economy minister in the next government, and Nicolas Posse, a close ally of Milei who is seen as a likely chief of staff, are expected to meet with government officials. International Monetary Fund.
The IMF has a $44 billion loan program for Argentina to help improve its governance and economic growth.
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AP writer Paul Wiseman contributed to this report. Politi reported from Buenos Aires.