President Javier Milei is reasserting his alignment with the United States and backing US President Donald Trump’s removal of Nicolás Maduro from power.
The alignment extends to cooling his support – in line with Trump’s new position – for Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, despite Milei’s previously enthusiastic backing for the winner of last year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
The shift reflects Washington’s assessment that Maduro’s dramatic ouster will not bring down the Chavista regime’s core political and security structures, ruling out the chances of a rapid democratic transition.
As a result, key figures such as former vice-president, interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, the military high command and the intelligence apparatus remain in charge as the US steps in to take control of Venezuela’s oil production capabilities and massive reserves.
That reading has led both Trump and Milei to downplay the prospect of swift elections or an opposition-led transition led by Machado and her allies.
Casa Rosada sources, quoted by the Noticias Argentinas news agency midweek, said calls for immediate elections were unrealistic. “Calling elections would be delirious,” said one senior official with access to the presidential office, arguing that “there could not be any free electoral process” while the regime’s structure remains intact.
Milei endorsed the US operation in an interview this week, describing Maduro’s removal as a “surgical” act carried out with “admirable precision.” Venezuela, he said, remained “a dictatorship, a terrorist narco-state,” signalling full political backing for Trump’s intervention.
That marked a recalibration from the Argentine’s previous praise of Machado, whom he has championed as a symbol of democratic resistance. As recently as Saturday, during a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, Milei had spoken favourably of Machado, even as US troops were landing in Venezuela.
The turning point came after Trump publicly questioned Machado’s viability as a national leader. “I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn’t have the support or respect within the country,” said the Republican leader, adding that the United States would “run” Venezuela for the foreseeable future.
Milei soon followed suit, with Argentina’s government closing ranks behind Washington. On Monday, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno used social media to deny reports that Milei had told Macron he was working towards the inauguration of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia.
The message from Buenos Aires is now clear: Argentina will follow the US lead not only on Maduro’s removal, but also on managing the uncertain future that lies ahead.
Davos speech
Milei will reiterate his backing of Trump’s position during his appearance at the annual edition of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, later this month.
Argentina’s head of state is working on the speech, which will include a resounding endorsement of Trump’s actions in Venezuela and a defence of the Western world and its values, government sources confirmed to the Noticias Argentinas news agency.
President Milei will travel to Switzerland for the January 19-23 event. He will be accompanied by a small delegation, which will include his sister, Presidential Chief-of-Staff Karina Milei and Quirno, Argentina’s foreign minister.
According to reports quoting his speechwriting team, Milei will dedicate passages to a defence of the family, Western tradition, free trade and capitalism.
“The President will expose the need for the Western world to regain common sense,” a source told Noticias Argentinas.
Trump’s intervention in Venezuela will also be cited. Milei will make no attempt to hide its support for the US intervention, which led to the detention of Maduro, Hugo Chávez’s heir, after more than a decade in power.
"It was a surgical, successful and efficient operation,” a Casa Rosada source said, hinting at the language Milei will deploy.
Milei is expected to use his speech at Davos to once again call for the staging of a summit of regional right-winger leaders, an idea he has previously voiced during international appearances.
Argentina’s president wants to closer align with like-minded leaders, including José Antonio Kast (Chile), Rodrigo Paz (Bolivia), Daniel Noboa (Ecuador), Santiago Peña (Paraguay), Nayib Bukele (El Salvador) and José Jeri (Peru).
– TIMES/NA
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