Trump, Macron, G20, Meloni – Milei's coming international commitments

President Javier Milei will take to the skies this week as he begins a 10-day period packed with international commitments and bilateral talks.

On the agenda for the La Libertad Avanza leader is a visit to the United States for a right-wing gathering of political leaders, a trip to Brazil for the G20 summit, and bilateral meetings with US president-elect Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Milei, 53, has yet to speak with Trump after the Republican leader’s victory over US Vice-President Kamala Harris in last week’s US presidential election, though that will not stop him flying to Florida for an appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Investor Forum.

Handily, the event – running November 14 to 16 – will be hosted at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, all but ensuring a meeting with the US president-elect. Government sources say a meeting is all but confirmed.

Milei will depart Argentina for the United States on Wednesday, accompanied by presidential chief-staff, his sister Karina Milei, and new Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein.

CPAC has not yet confirmed when Milei will speak but it will have to be an express trip – Argentina’s head of state will need to return to Buenos Aires in order to host his French counterpart Macron at the Casa Rosada on Sunday, November 17.

Macron, who is visiting the region for the G20 Leaders Summit in Brazil running November 18 and 19, previously hosted Milei at the Élysée Palace in Paris on July 26.

Both leaders will then travel to Rio de Janeiro for the G20 summit, which will be hosted by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Argentina’s diplomats are working to line up meetings with several heads of state, with the top target being Chinese premier Xi Jinping.

Meloni confirms visit

Adding to Milei’s busy schedule will be the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who confirmed this weekend she will visit Buenos Aires on November 20.

According to an agenda published on the Italian government's official website, the Fratelli d'Italia leader will travel to Argentina from the G20 summit in Rio.

Milei and Meloni, who are on good terms, have met previously on three occasions: once in Rome last February; at the G7 summit the Italian PM hosted at Borgo Egnazia, Apulia, in June; and at the United Nations General Assembly last September. 

The two leaders have previously highlighted their “common will to strengthen bilateral relations.”

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani travelled to Argentina in October to meet with officials and President Milei at Casa Rosada, Newsweek Argentina reported on Monday.

After his meeting with Argentina’s head of state, Tajani praised “the decisions taken by the government on foreign and economic policy.”

“Our objective is to strengthen relations in all sectors. We are working to ensure that Italian companies are increasingly present in Argentina,” said Tajani. 

– TIMES/NA