President Javier Milei plans to attend the inauguration ceremonies of Peru's president-elect Keiko Fujimori and Colombia's president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, following their recent election victories, according to government sources.
Milei is expected to travel to Peru on July 28 for Fujimori's swearing-in ceremony, also visiting Colombia on August 7 for De la Espriella's inauguration. The President also said he planned to attend via posts on personal social media accounts.
The two election victories strengthen the advance of conservative and right-wing political forces across Latin America, with Milei hailing both results as endorsements of his own free-market agenda.
The La Libertad Avanza first celebrated De la Espriella's victory in Colombia, describing it as a "historic victory" after the right-wing candidate narrowly defeated left-wing rival Iván Cepeda in the presidential run-off.
According to the provisional count, De la Espriella won 49.65 percent of the vote, while Cepeda, representing the governing Pacto Historico coalition led by current President Gustavo Petro, secured 48.7 percen.
"The majority of Colombians chose the path of economic freedom, prosperity, uncompromising security and saying enough to transnational organised crime and drug-trafficking," Milei wrote on social media, reacting to the victory.
In the same post, titled "The lion and the tiger roar in Latin America...!!!" – a reference to the nicknames associated with both leaders – Milei added: "Freedom is advancing across Latin America and there is no turning back.”
The President also congratulated Fujimori, after the candidate from the right-wing Fuerza Popular party defeated left-wing candidate Roberto Sánchez by one of the narrowest margins in Peru's history.
Official results gave Fujimori 50.135 percent of the valid vote against Sánchez's 49.865 percent.
"The Peruvian people have joined Colombia and sent a clear message: the region wants to return to the path of freedom and security," Milei claimed in a post on social media. "Peruvians rejected the Communist collapse proposed by Roberto Sánchez and said never again to totalitarian socialism."
The President later revealed that he had spoken by telephone with Fujimori, saying they agreed on the need for greater freedom, economic growth and stronger cooperation against transnational organised crime.
"Peru joins the group of countries in the region that have decided to stand up to socialism and work together in defence of freedom," Milei said.
Words for United States
On Saturday, Milei dedicated a post on social media to marking the 250th anniversary of the United States' Declaration of Independence.
In a message posted on social media, the President adopted the slogan "Make America Great Again" in Spanish, describing the United States' founding as being rooted in "a simple yet revolutionary idea: that all men are equal before God and possess the inalienable natural rights to life, liberty and property."
Milei argued that those principles had allowed the United States to become "the absolute opposite of countries that embraced the contrary ideas of Communism.”
Drawing a parallel with Argentina, the President said the country had also been founded on the ideals of liberal democracy and individual liberty, arguing that those who reject those principles "cannot call themselves true patriots." He concluded by expressing his hope that those values would spread across the Americas "from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego."
"Congratulations to all Americans on this Fourth of July," Milei wrote. "I trust you will continue to be a beacon of freedom in the north, while we make Argentina a beacon of freedom in the south once again. Happy Fourth of July!"
– TIMES/NA
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