Argentina’s President Javier Milei is set to become the first foreign leader to meet with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
On Thursday, major Argentine newspapers Clarín, La Nación, and Infobae reported that Milei arrived in the United States after being invited as a speaker to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). This marks his seventh visit to the U.S. since assuming office.
Milei is scheduled to deliver a speech on Friday morning. However, prior to that, he is expected to have a private meeting with President-elect Trump at a dinner event at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday evening. While the meeting is not expected to be a formal bilateral summit, the specifics of the encounter remain unclear. According to Clarín, both Milei and President-elect Trump will give remarks during the dinner, with the informal setting allowing for a more relaxed and personal exchange between the two leaders.
Often referred to as the Trump of South America, Milei has expressed admiration for the U.S. president-elect since his campaign days. Following Trump’s election, Milei posted dozens of congratulatory messages on his social media accounts, reinforcing his support.
In an interview with Argentina’s Radio Rivadavia on Wednesday, Milei emphasized his intention to pursue a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States. “We are opening up our economy, and we believe we can progress on a broader trade agreement with the U.S.,” he said. Milei also expressed hope that the incoming Trump administration would support Argentina in advancing negotiations for a new loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).