Milei's Foreign Policy Shakeup: Argentina's Diplomatic Institutions Under Fire
Javier Milei's presidency has brought significant changes to Argentina's foreign policy. His unambiguous stance on Israel and shift away from the UN's Agenda 2030 have disrupted the country's traditional neutrality. Now, Gerardo Werthein, replacing Diana Mondino, is purging officials and auditing those promoting opposing ideologies.
Milei's approach to foreign policy has been marked by a disregard for institutional constraints. He initially appointed Mondino, a pragmatic economist, as Foreign Affairs Minister. However, her team's influence waned as Milei's personal ideology took precedence. Ideological actors with no diplomatic experience gained influence, shaping policy discourse and joining official delegations.
Consuelo Thiers argues that Milei is not just shifting foreign policy but dismantling Argentina's diplomatic institutions. Werthein's recent actions, including purging career officials and auditing those promoting opposing ideologies, seem to support this view. Milei's foreign policy has become increasingly entangled with domestic polarisation and culture wars, with his ideological, individualistic, and anti-institutional disposition reshaping Argentina's conception and execution of foreign policy.
Milei's unambiguous pro-Israel policy and shift away from the UN's Agenda 2030 have disrupted Argentina's traditional Middle East neutrality and threatened support for the Malvinas claim. Werthein's actions suggest a deliberate dismantling of Argentina's diplomatic institutions in service of ideological goals. As Argentina's foreign policy continues to evolve under Milei's leadership, the country and the international community watch with keen interest.
