In the wake of Israel's recent strikes against Iran's nuclear and missile infrastructure, it has been confirmed that Argentina's President, Javier Milei, was not in Israel at the time of the attack.
The President's spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, confirmed this via a Twitter post in response to Argentine journalist Diego Papic's query about Milei's whereabouts.
President Milei had been on a three-day official visit to Israel from Tuesday to Thursday, as part of a broader international tour that also included Italy, the Vatican, Spain, and France. This marked his second official visit to the Middle Eastern nation as a head of state. Following his visit to Israel, Milei embarked on a quick trip to Spain, where he was honored with the "School of Salamanca" award by the local libertarian think tank, "The Friday Club."
As reported by Breitbart, during a speech on Friday, Milei highlighted the progress his administration has made in improving Argentina's economy. Without directly referring to the strikes, he pointed out the challenges Israel faces, stating that while Israel acknowledges the existence of other nations, "Iran does not accept that Israel exists."
In the wake of the strikes, Argentina's Security Minister Patricia Bullrich ordered security reinforcements around the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires and the Argentine-Israeli Mutual Association (AMIA) building. These locations were previously targeted by Iran and its proxy terror group Hezbollah in deadly terrorist attacks in the 1990s. Additional security measures were also implemented around other Jewish community locations such as schools, clubs, and religious temples.
Before his departure from Israel, Milei signed a memorandum of understanding with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, titled "Defense of Liberty and Democracy Against Terrorism and Anti-Semitism." The Argentine presidency stated that this agreement is a "key step" in strengthening strategic ties between the two countries and paves the way for intensive collaboration in defense and security matters.
Argentine Ambassador to Israel, Axel Wahnish, stated that the agreement, also known as the "Isaac Agreements," involves "unprecedented cooperation against terrorism, cybercrime investigations, and the establishment of fast-track customs lanes," among other objectives. Wahnish also revealed that Paraguay and Ecuador have shown interest in joining the agreement, with potential signing in December at the upcoming "World Conference for Freedom" in Buenos Aires.
Since taking office in December 2023, Milei has overseen a significant "realignment" of Argentina's foreign policy, positioning the United States and Israel as its main allies. This shift has reversed nearly two decades of policies implemented by past socialist administrations that had pushed Argentina towards Iran and other rogue regimes such as Cuba, Venezuela, China, and Russia.
The recent events underscore the importance of international alliances and the ongoing struggle against terrorism. As Milei stated during the signing ceremony, "Argentina and Israel are beacons of light in a world darkened by darkness. We have to be united in this struggle."
This sentiment resonates with the conservative values of individual freedom and limited government, emphasizing the need for nations to stand together against threats to liberty and democracy.
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