With same demands, isolated Milei prepares for Mercosur summit

President Javier Milei will host the leaders of the Mercosur trade bloc at a summit in Buenos Aires next week in the capacity of Argentina’s pro-tempore presidency.

Milei, 54, is expected to once again highlight the importance of making the trade bloc’s rules "more flexible" at the event next Wednesday and Thursday.

The conclave will be spiced up by some particular aspects. Firstly, the situation in the Middle East will trigger tension with other leaders of the región, more specifically with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has criticised Israel. And secondly, Lula’s proposed visit to see former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who is under house arrest at her San José 1111 address after being sentenced to six years in prison and a lifelong ban on public office in the ‘Vialidad’ corruption case.

Inside the Casa Rosada, they note that they have no problems with the Brazilian leader’s visit to see the former president, recalling that Milei often conversed with opposition leaders on his visits to countries, including several meetings with Jair Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo in Brazil.

Sources further revealed that Milei’s speech has not yet been written. 

In the corridors of power they assure that no bilateral meetings are expected since Milei does not take kindly to them.

An informal encounter with his Paraguayan colleague Santiago Peña, with whom Milei has a good relationship, has not been ruled out. The duo previously met in Asunción, Paraguay, at the Casa Rosada and at Olivos presidential residence on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.