The US Embassy in Argentina has officially announced the arrival of its new ambassador, Peter Lamelas, who landed in Buenos Aires on Friday.
“Welcome to Argentina! Ambassador Peter Lamelas arrived in Buenos Aires today and will soon present his credentials to begin his work at a key moment in the relationship between the United States and Argentina,” the Embassy said in a statement shared on social media.
The Embassy said Lamelas will formally present his credentials to Argentina’s government in the coming days.
Lamelas, 66, was nominated for the ambassador post by US President Donald Trump and was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 18, though he delayed his arrival until after Argentina’s October 26 midterm legislative elections.
He will become the 53rd US ambassador to the Republic of Argentina.
A physician and entrepreneur, Lamelas has more than two decades of experience in emergency medicine and emergency medical services. He is also the founder and former chief executive officer of MD Now Urgent Care, the largest network of urgent care medical centres in the state of Florida.
Institutionally, he twice served on the Board of Directors of the Urgent Care Association and worked as medical director of hospital emergency departments and emergency medical services.
During Trump’s first term in office, Lamelas was a member of the Department of Justice’s Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Review Board, which honours the bravery of US first responders. He also served as a municipal commissioner in the city of Manalapan, Florida.
The appointment highlights not only Lamelas’ professional credentials, but also his personal story. Born in Cuba, he emigrated to the United States with his family to escape the communist regime. This exodus, so common among Cuban refugees during the second half of the 20th century, profoundly shaped his world view.
US media reports that the family arrived in the country without significant resources, starting from scratch and working hard to integrate and prosper, an experience Lamelas has described as the true “American dream.”
Lamelas has previously recounted how this experience taught him to value freedom and to distrust political systems that limit individual freedom and opportunity. He is seen as a good fit to balance the relationship with Milei, whom he has regularly voiced support for on social media.
The new envoy’s arrival comes at a strategic moment for bilateral relations, marked by unprecedented financial support from the Milei government and mutual interest in areas such as investment, energy, technological innovation and security cooperation.
Lamelas said recently major US and Western firms are on the verge of announcing “unprecedented” capital investments in Argentina.
“US companies and the western world are on the verge of investing an unprecedented amount of capital in the sovereign Republic of Argentina which will Make Argentina Great Again. I will work day and night on making this a reality to benefit both Argentina and the USA and all of our people. God bless Argentina & God bless America! (sic)," wrote Lamelas in a post on X.
Married to his wife Stephanie, Washington’s new ambassador in Buenos Aires is said to be an avid hiker and active supporter of charitable organisations through philanthropic work.
– TIMES
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