Argentina's President Javier Milei has made headlines with a significant shift in foreign policy, dismissing foreign minister Diana Mondino after the country voted in favor of lifting the US economic embargo on Cuba at the United Nations on October 17, 2024. This vote saw Argentina align with 186 other nations, while only the US and Israel opposed the resolution. This marks a notable departure from Milei's administration, as it is the first instance since he took office where Argentina did not align with US and Israeli policies [aeef9342].
Milei's decision to fire Mondino reflects his administration's stance, as his office stated that Argentina is 'categorically opposed to the Cuban dictatorship.' The new foreign minister, Gerardo Werthein, who previously served as Argentina's ambassador to Washington, is expected to steer the country's foreign policy in a direction more aligned with Milei's views [aeef9342]. Under the previous Peronist government, Argentina maintained close ties with Cuba, a relationship that has now been called into question by Milei's administration. The US embargo, imposed in 1962 following Fidel Castro's rise to power, has long been a contentious issue in US-Latin America relations [aeef9342].
Milei, who campaigned against communism, has previously criticized international institutions for promoting a 'socialist agenda.' However, he has softened his stance towards key economic partners like China, referring to them as a 'super-friendly partner,' which indicates a complex balancing act in his foreign policy approach [aeef9342].