Milei's Ideological Approach Reshapes Argentina's Foreign Policy
Argentina's foreign policy is undergoing significant changes under President Javier Milei. His confrontational rhetoric and ideological approach are reshaping the country's diplomatic landscape, leading to concerns about the politicisation of foreign affairs and the erosion of institutional norms.
Political scientist Tobias Boos, from the University of Vienna, has analysed the dissociation of Milei's foreign policy from Argentina's diplomatic institutions. He notes that ideological actors with no diplomatic experience have gained influence within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shaping policy discourse and challenging issues like feminism, gender, and human rights.
This shift has entangled Argentina's foreign policy with domestic polarisation. Leaders are prioritising ideological performance over strategic interests, as highlighted by Milei's rejection of the UN's Agenda 2030 and his shifting position on Ukraine. Consuelo Thiers argues that Milei is dismantling Argentina's diplomatic institutions, replacing expertise with ideology.
Milei's personal ideology is disrupting traditional foreign policy principles. His improvised decision-making, driven by ideological commitments rather than strategic calculation, has led to the disruption of Argentina's Middle East neutrality and support for the Malvinas claim. The consequences include a fearful diplomatic corps and frozen promotions and overseas postings.
Argentina's experience under Milei serves as a cautionary tale. When ideology, personal loyalty, and political spectacle replace expertise, process, and diplomacy in foreign policy, institutions suffer, and strategic interests may be compromised.
