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Biden deepens the relationship with Milei: considers incorporating Argentina into the Alliance for Economic Prosperity - Infobae
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Biden profundiza la relación con Milei: considera incorporar a la Argentina en la Alianza para la Prosperidad Económica
Se trata de un acuerdo multilateral que Estados Unidos anunció durante la Cumbre de las Américas en 2022 y que promueve la integración regional. La administración demócrata le negó el ingreso al país durante el gobierno de Alberto Fernández por su cercanía con China y sus coqueteos con Putin
www.infobae.com
May 23, 2024
This is a multilateral agreement that the United States announced during the Summit of the Americas in 2022 and that promotes regional integration. The Democratic administration denied him entry to the country during the government of Alberto Fernández due to his closeness to China and his flirtations with Putin.
By Romanian Lejtman
Friday, May 17: Diana Mondino greets Antony Blinken during their meeting at the State Department
(From Washington, United States) During the meeting she held in DC with Antony Blinken , Diana Mondino raised the possibility of Argentina joining the Alliance for Economic Prosperity (APEP) , a multilateral agreement to promote regional economic integration announced by Joseph Biden during the Summit of the Americas in 2022.
The Secretary of State replied to the Chancellor that “yes” , that “they were going to consider it” , and that it was necessary to define an entry mechanism that must be defined by the members of the APEP, among them Canada, Chile, Mexico and Uruguay.
In Washington, it is not ruled out that Biden will make the formal announcement during the pull aside -informal meeting- that he would have with Milei at the G7 in Italy.
Biden's possible decision puts an end to a strong diplomatic tug-of-war that the United States maintained with Argentina during the Alberto Fernández government. At that time, Alberto Fernández approached China - which asked to join the BRICS - and flirted with Vladimir Putin , who was marching against Ukraine .
These two geopolitical positions of Alberto Fernández closed Argentina's entry into the APEP. In early November 2023, Gabriel Boric participated in an APEP summit in Washington and asked Biden for Argentina and Brazil. The White House responded to the Chilean president's request with an ostensible diplomatic silence .
Family photograph of the presidents of Latin America who attended the Summit of the Alliance for Economic Prosperity convened by Biden in Washington
Before last Friday's meeting with Blinken, Mondino had lunch with the Republican representative (deputy) María Elvira Salazar along with the Argentine ambassador to the United States, Gerardo Werthein , and the Secretary of International Economic Relations, Marcelo Cima .
Salazar supports Argentina's entry into the APEP and promised to push for the country's incorporation through his political weight in DC. He complied: he sent a letter to Biden on this matter, and then used his time at a legislative hearing with Blinken to ask the Secretary of State when he would join Argentina in the APEP.
“So let's go to Argentina: Javier Milei is the most pro-American president in the history of Argentina. Support his agenda: Ukraine, Israel, anti-China, Venezuela, Cuba, Taiwan, open markets. I just sent President Biden a letter asking that Argentina be asked to join or be put in APEC. Would you consider putting them in that economic plan for Latin America? Salazar asked Blinken during his appearance - this week - on Capitol Hill.
-In short, yes, I was in Argentina a couple of months ago with President Milei , Blinken answered, while they asked Salazar to conclude his participation.
- We need more ¨Mileis¨ in Latin America , don't you think, sir?, insisted the Republican representative.
-I am happy to look at your letter, and certainly happy to consider it.
Republican deputy María Elvira Salazar raised the possibility of incorporating Argentina into the Alliance for Economic Prosperity to the Secretary of State, Antoni Blinken.
The Alliance for Economic Prosperity is a geopolitical response from the United States to China's offensive in Latin America. It is about integrating the region to execute a common strategy linked to sustainable infrastructure, semiconductors and clean energy .
In November 2023, Biden invited the heads of state of Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Uruguay, twelve countries that intend to deepen multilateral relations with the White House. Argentina and Brazil, due to their own extra-continental alliances, were left out of the regional summit.
“The United States is already the largest source of investment in Latin America and the Caribbean and we will ensure that our closest neighbors know that they can choose between debt trap diplomacy, and high-quality transparent approaches to infrastructure and development,” Biden said when opening the first APEP meeting in Washington.
Milei wants to add Argentina to that multilateral forum, and Blinken already gave his word during his meeting with Mondino and in his responses to Salazar on Capitol Hill. The political event can be crowned at the G7 Italy, where Milei and Biden will meet.
