BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — In April, Argentine President Javier Milei made history as the first foreign head of state to participate in Israel’s Independence Day ceremony. “Argentina and Israel are not merely partners; they are friendly nations,” Milei said at the event, where he reiterated a pledge to move Argentina’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
As Israel faces international backlash over its brutal military campaign in Gaza and its ongoing, de facto annexation of the West Bank, Milei’s chummy appearance beside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underscored a very different reality playing out in Argentina. Since his rise to power, the South American country has become one of Israel’s most outspoken allies. At the same time, Israeli companies have expanded their footprint in strategic sectors like the critical minerals that power artificial intelligence and the energy transition.
A self-described “anarcho-capitalist” who wielded a chainsaw as a prop on the campaign trail, Milei has launched a rapid restructuring of the Argentine state since taking office in December 2023. He has eliminated entire ministries and slashed spending for public health, universities and disability programs. His policies have frequently drawn comparisons to those of U.S. President Donald Trump, whom Milei has described as a “personal friend” and an “inspiration.”