Argentina’s President Javier Milei will embark on a 10-day international tour starting June 5, meeting global leaders including Pope Leo XIV and Netanyahu. The tour includes key discussions around partnerships and a new flight route linking Buenos Aires and Tel Aviv, concluding on June 14.
Javier Milei, the Argentine President, is set to kick off a 10-day international tour this Thursday, June 5. This trip marks his longest foreign visit during his presidency, and it involves crucial meetings with significant world leaders, including Pope Leo XIV and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as confirmed by the presidency of Argentina on Friday.
The tour begins in Rome, with Milei’s first scheduled meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the Chigi Palace on June 6. This meeting comes on the heels of an agreement between Argentina’s state energy firm YPF and the Italian multinational ENI. Notably, Milei has previously advocated for Italy to join a proposed “league of nations” to form a more unified international front.
On June 7, Milei will have an audience with Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City. The newly appointed pontiff has a unique connection to Latin America, having served as a missionary in Peru, making this meeting particularly significant for the Argentine leader. After his papal visit, Milei will head to Spain, where he is expected to participate in the closing day of the Madrid Economic Forum.
However, it seems that Milei won’t be engaging with the Spanish government under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez given their tense relationship. In contrast, he has developed a cooperative rapport with Emmanuel Macron of France, which will continue with a meeting set for June 9 in Nice. This marks their already established diplomatic ties since Milei’s inauguration last December.
The second leg of Milei’s tour brings him to Israel, where he has a busy agenda on June 9. After arriving, he will meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Netanyahu. A visit to the historic Wailing Wall in Jerusalem is also on his itinerary.
A notable highlight will occur on June 11, when he is awarded the Genesis Prize; this is often dubbed the “Jewish Nobel.” During this visit, he is also expected to sign a “memorandum for democracy and freedom.” According to Argentina’s Ambassador to Israel, Axel Wahnish, there will be an announcement of a new Bahía Blanca to Tel Aviv flight route, a development Wahnish describes as a “symbolic demonstration of the union between the two peoples.”
Additionally, on the final day in Israel, Milei is scheduled to meet with families affected by Hamas kidnappings before addressing the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. After a return stop in Spain, he is set to arrive back in Buenos Aires on June 14, concluding a packed diplomatic agenda.
Javier Milei’s upcoming international tour is poised to be a significant step in strengthening Argentina’s diplomatic relations. With meetings scheduled with influential leaders like Pope Leo XIV and Netanyahu, and participation in global forums, Milei’s agenda reflects a focus on enhancing bilateral agreements and addressing critical issues. Returning on June 14, this tour showcases Argentina’s increasing engagement on the international stage.
Original Source: batimes.com.ar
