Argentina’s President and Israel’s Recent Developments
Argentina’s President Javier Milei was not in Israel when the country closed its airspace ahead of a military strike against Iran’s nuclear and missile sites on Thursday evening, as confirmed by several sources.
Milei’s spokesman, Manuel Adorni, addressed Argentine journalist Diego Papic on Twitter regarding this matter.
This week, Israel welcomed its second official visit from Milei, which took place from Tuesday to Thursday. This trip is part of a larger international journey that included stops in Italy, the Vatican, Spain, and France.
After his visit to Israel, Milei quickly traveled to Spain to receive the “School of Salamanca” award from a local libertarian think tank known as the Club de los Veigns.
While speaking on Friday about his administration’s efforts to enhance Argentina’s economy, Milei pointed out, without specifically mentioning the strike, that Israel faces challenges due to neighbors with hostile intentions. He emphasized how Israel recognizes the existence of other nations, contrasting this with Iran’s refusal to accept Israel’s existence.
On Friday morning, according to Argentine time, Milei shared photos with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his Instagram. The images were captured during a prayer session at the Western Wall in Jerusalem just before Milei departed from Israel.
As reported by Argentine newspaper Lanasion, Milei arrived in Madrid shortly before Israel initiated “Operation Rising Lion” against Iran.
In response to potential threats, Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bruchlich has reportedly reinforced security measures around the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires and the Argentina-Israel Mutual Association (AMIA) building, locations previously targeted by Iranian-backed groups. The AMIA bombing in 1994 resulted in 85 deaths and numerous injuries, marking it as one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the Western Hemisphere prior to 9/11.
Bruchlich has also heightened security in various Argentine Jewish communities, including schools and religious centers. A senior source mentioned that, while not wanting to cause alarm, Argentina’s alliance with Israel and the U.S. intelligence agencies has made it a “potential target.”
Before leaving Israel, Milei signed a memorandum with Netanyahu focusing on “Freedom and Defense of Democracy against Terrorism and Anti-Semitism.” This agreement is seen as a crucial step in strengthening ties between the two nations, aiming to establish robust cooperation in defense and security.
During the signing ceremony, Milei declared, “Argentina and Israel are beacons of light in a world overshadowed by darkness. We must unite in this struggle.”
Israeli Ambassador to Argentina Axel Warnish stated that the newly signed agreement, referred to as the “ISAAC Agreement,” includes significant collaboration in combating terrorism and cybercrime, among other initiatives like expedited customs procedures. Warnish indicated that both Paraguay and Ecuador have expressed interest in joining this agreement, with potential contracts to be signed during an upcoming conference in Buenos Aires this December.
Since coming to office in December 2023, Milei has dramatically shifted Argentina’s foreign policy, positioning the country as a close ally of Israel, effectively reversing nearly two decades of diplomatic alignment with nations like Iran and others seen as rogue states.
