Following an intense backlash to his promotion of the ‘$LIBRA’ cryptocurrency, President Javier Milei will fly to the United States just after midnight on Wednesday, seeking to put the controversy behind him.
Milei’s visit centres on the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington DC but will also include high-profile meetings with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.
The head of state and his delegation will depart on a flight bound for Washington DC in the early hours of Thursday morning, as confirmed by Presidential Spokesperson Manuel Adorni. The President is scheduled to arrive in Washington at around 10am [Buenos Aires time].
Milei is accompanied by a small team of trusted officials, including Economy Minister Luis Caputo, Presidential Spokesperson Manuel Adorni, Presidential Chief-of-Staff Karina Milei and Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein.
The La Libertad Avanza leader will meet with Musk at 5.15pm [20.15 GMT], followed by a meeting with Georgieva at the IMF’s headquarters in Washington at 7pm [22.00 GMT].
Caputo, who is overseeing final negotiations for a new financing agreement with the IMF, will join the latter.
Argentina’s economy minister is confident he can finalise a deal within the first quarter, stating that the terms are “practically agreed,” with only minor details remaining.
“We are at the final stage. The only thing left to negotiate is the amount. The economic terms are already fully agreed,” Caputo said in a recent interview.
Milei is navigating fierce political turbulence at home following his controversial promotion of the ‘$LIBRA’ cryptocurrency project on X last Friday.
After his post on social media, the token surged in value and then crashed, with Milei deleting the post and distancing himself from it.
On Friday, Milei will deliver a speech at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) titled ‘The Argentine Economic Model.’ Later, he is set to meet World Bank President Ajay Banga.
The President’s final engagement in Washington will be the CPAC conference, which runs from February 19 to 22. Milei will deliver his speech on Saturday at 1pm [Buenos Aires time; 16.00 GMT], ahead of Trump, who is set to close the event.
According to the Noticias Argentinas news agency, there has been no formal request for an official meeting between Milei and Trump.
US tradition dictates that heads of state do not engage in bilateral meetings at the White House during the early months of a new administration.
An informal encounter between the two leaders remains a possibility.
Casa Rosada sources say Milei’s government also wants to move ahead with talks to agree a free-trade agreement with the United States.
Milei is also expected to discuss governance reforms with Musk, who recently joined Trump’s administration as head of the newly created ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ (DOGE), which has been tasked with cutting waste and bureaucracy.
Argentina’s leader has stated that DOGE was inspired by his own Deregulation & State Transformation Ministry.
The trip to Washington is Milei’s second visit to the United States in 30 days, following his trip to the US Capitol back in January for Trump’s inauguration.
Milei will leave the United States on Saturday night, returning to Buenos Aires on Sunday morning.
– TIMES/NA/AFP
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