President Javier Milei has sworn-in Argentina’s former ambassador to the United States, Gerardo Werthein, as the nation’s new foreign minister.
Werthein, 68, took the oath of office at the Salón Blanco at the Casa Rosada on Monday, formally assuming the role as Argentina’s top diplomat.
He replaces Diana Mondino, who Milei unceremoniously dumped last Wednesday after Argentina voted to condemn the US trade embargo against Cuba in a United Nations vote.
The former ambassador to the United States swore on “God, the Fatherland and the Torah” as he took office, making him the first official to allude to the holy book of the Jewish religion in his oath.
The brief ceremony took place in the White Hall of the Casa Rosada in the presence of the new foreign minister’s family members and Cabinet ministers.
Also present were businessmen Globant boss Miguel Migoya, Alejandro Bulgheroni of Pan American Energy, and Zulema ‘Zulemita’ Menem, the daughter of former president Carlos Menem.
The new foreign minister is a wealthy businessman with close ties to the US establishment. He accompanied Milei on his first tour as head of state-elect, last November, when he visited New York.
During the course of the day, it emerged that Werthein had ordered the removal of several of Mondino's former collaborators at the Foreign Ministry, in line with President Milei’s recent declaration that he would “audit” diplomatic staff to ensure they back his priorities.
Government sources say they believe the foreign service acts like “a caste,” and want to ensure it falls in line behind the Executive branch.
Quick dismissal, appointment
Werthein was informed of his new role just hours after the dismissal and told by President Milei to draw up a shortlist to replace him in Washington as Argentina’s envoy to the United States.
President Milei, who has aligned himself with the United States and Israel since taking office last December, asked for Mondino’s resignation after Argentina voted at the United Nations to condemn the US trade embargo of Cuba.
Though in line with the nation's historic position on the issue, the head of state was angered by the stance and by the lack of prior consultation with the Executive branch.
Government sources say that the government had no prior knowledge of the United Nations vote on the embargo, nor the position that Mondino would take.
Speculation over Mondino’s future had been growing in recent weeks and the “mistake,” as Milei described it, prompted an immediate response from the Casa Rosada.
Speaking in a televised interview with his girlfriend that aired on Monday, Milei said the “unforgivable mistake” had “cost” Mondino “her job in 30 minutes.”
“We monitor the [social] networks all the time, because when a problem appears it can be solved very quickly,” he said.
Milei said Monday that those involved in the UN vote were traitors to the country and said he is "ready to throw them all out."
"Foreign policy is set by the president," he said in an appearance of a television show hosted by his girlfriend ex-vevedette Amalia ‘Yuyito’ González.
– TIMES/NA
Comments