President Javier Milei will travel to New York once again to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), but both the make-up of his delegation and the details of his agenda are being kept under close guard.
Last-minute changes to the schedule cannot be ruled out, including a possible side trip outside New York City. So far, the only confirmed engagement is Milei's address to the UN General Assembly where his renewed focus on the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands is likely to take centre-stage.
Milei will attend a dinner hosted by the Fundación Libertad y Progreso, during which he will address investors and entrepreneurs, his preferred audience. Leading figures from the business world are expected to attend.
The delegation will include, at a minimum, President Milei, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and Presidential Chief-of-Staff Karina Milei, the head of state’s sister.
Also travelling will be Francisco Tropepi, Argentina's representative before the UN, and likely Alec Oxenford, Argentina's ambassador to the United States, who is raising his profile in contrast to Quirno, whose grip on Argentina's Foreign Ministry looks ever more shaky.
Other ministers may also make the trip. Last year, the heads of the Defence, Health and Economy ministries travelled with the President.
Milei's arrival in New York comes at a delicate moment internationally, with the Malvinas issue gaining traction amid tensions between US President Donald Trump and the United Kingdom. London’s lack of support for US actions in the Strait of Hormuz and, most recently, sanctions on goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, are points of tension. The moves sparked a sharp exchange of statements, with some Israeli officials, such as Israel’s National Security Ministry Itamar Ben-Gvir now describing the archipelago as territory usurped by the British.
Despite all this, journalists in the British press have confirmed that new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will hold his first meeting with Trump at the UN summit. Against that backdrop, the Casa Rosada has not ruled out a fresh meeting between Milei and his US counterpart, which could be read as renewed support for Argentina's sovereignty claim.
For now, the US president has been ambiguous. Sources within Argentina's Foreign Ministry are sceptical, noting that Trump has so far taken no firm stance on the claim. Some also play down the influence US Secretary of State Marco Rubio might have over Trump, who is focused on the Middle East and November's midterm elections.
Another point on which the Milei government remains cautiously optimistic is the recent joint call for “self-determination” from pro-independence parties in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which has put Downing Street in an awkward position.
"For the United Kingdom to defend territorial integrity is excellent news for us. It's what we have always defended," said Quirno recently, pointing to the contradictions in the British government's position.
Argentina's own diplomatic corps, however, quietly distance themself from the foreign minister's remarks, noting that real progress will only come once Britain sits down to negotiate over the islands.
Going on precedent, Milei is likely to hold no more than two or three meetings with other heads of state, as he has on previous trips to New York. Career diplomats know the President has little interest in that sort of engagement, although the UNGA traditionally hosts a dinner to which all heads of state are invited.
With the Malvinas issue and Budget dominating congressional agenda, Milei could use the international spotlight to unveil a new initiative and try to capitalise on his ties with Washington, an effort the government and top adviser Santiago Caputo's camp have pushed as they look to exploit the rift between Trump and the United Kingdom.
That push was checked recently by the US ambassador to Argentina, Peter Lamelas, who said: "The United States has a position of neutrality on the islands. That hasn't changed."
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