Javier Milei wants an Argentine diplomacy aligned with his vision of the world and, to achieve this, he has committed to excluding all those who do not share it. A vote in the United Nations General Assembly, a priori without bets, defeated Diana Mondino, Minister of Foreign Affairs since the libertarian came to power in December 2023.
On Wednesday, October 30, like every year since 1992, Argentina voted in favor of a resolution calling for the end of the United States blockade against Cuba, along with 186 other countries. Only the United States and Israel voted against. Shortly after, the head of Argentine diplomacy was fired. “Our country is categorically opposed to the Cuban dictatorship”the government justified in a press release. On Thursday, the Argentine government spokesman explained this overthrow by the fact that this vote went against the alignment with the United States – whoever its president – and with Israel, the heart of Argentina’s international policy, Javier Milei: “It is nothing more and nothing less than that. »
This dismissal is part of the purge, with a view to harmonization, initiated among the directors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whether appointed by their administration or by previous ones. “The Executive will launch an audit of the career staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the objective of identifying promoters of programs hostile to freedom”, warns the press release announcing the departure of Diana Mondino. This warning echoes a letter sent on October 18 by the government to members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including those posted abroad: “Those who are not capable of taking on the challenge of defending the ideas of freedom will have to step aside. »
“Leading the cultural battle”
The audit represents a break with the tradition of Argentine diplomacy, where “Ideological pluralism coexists with the execution of an instruction. [hiérarchique] »underlines Diego Guelar, former Argentine ambassador to China, the United States and Brazil, who speaks of “fear” of certain ministry officials.
The dismissal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs testifies to the power of Karina Milei, sister of the president and general secretary of the presidency, in action to bend or dismiss the ministers and those who gravitate around Javier Milei. Baptized “the leader” Through her brother, she occupies more and more prominence. In September she was named president of the La Libertad Avanza presidential party.
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