President Javier Milei hosted his Salvadoran counterpart Nayib Bukele at Casa Rosada on Monday as the duo held talks on issues such as energy, trade and security, among others.
Milei, 53, later welcomed the El Salvador president to the Olivos presidential residence for a private dinner.
It is the second time that Argentina’s head of state has met Bukele. He attended the Salvadoran leader’s inauguration in June earlier this year.
Prior to his arrival at the Casa Rosada, Bukele, 43, had placed a habitual floral offering at Plaza San Martín, Retiro, where he was accompanied by Foreign Minister Diana Mondino.
Milei welcomed him minutes before 3.30pm at the famous Salón Blanco, where they shared a formal greeting and took photos, before retiring to the presidential office.
“It’s going to be a very good meeting, Milei and I are friends. We’re going to discuss energy, trade and security,” Bukele told the press as he arrived at the Casa Rosada.
“I like what Milei is doing,” he added.
Bukele arrived in Argentina on Thursday evening and is due to return to Central America on Tuesday.
The Salvadoran head of state has gained great notoriety for his hardline security policy that has drastically reduced crime and drug-trafficking. However, he has been criticised for alleged human rights violations.
The security ministers of both countries, Patricia Bullrich and Gustavo Villatoro, signed in June “a working agreement to intensify collaboration in the exchange of information and legal instruments and joint training of Security Forces” of both countries.
They also established the creation of a “security policy laboratory to keep up-to-date figures of Argentina, El Salvador and any other country that chooses to adhere to it.”
“I’ve always said we’re open to supporting any government. We recently signed an agreement with the government of Argentina. We’ve received requests for support of different kinds from other government,” revealed Bukele in a recent interview.
– TIMES/NA
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