ARGENTINA
Argentinian President Javier Milei has hastily moved up his meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to today amid a significant deterioration in bilateral relations. Following its Copa America win earlier in July the Argentine national football team was captured on camera singing a racist chant referencing African-born French players. French and global footballing authorities swiftly condenmed the players actions.
- The incident widened into a diplomatic furore this week when Argentinian Vice President Victoria Villarruel posted on X: “No colonialist country is going to intimidate us for a [chant] or for telling the truths that they do not want to admit. Enough of simulating indignation, hypocrites,”
- As France24 reports Milei "...has sought to walk a fine line — nodding to the upswell of nationalism buoying the Argentina team while attempting to curb diplomatic backlash." Milei's spox and his sister have both sought to distance the gov't from the VP's comments.
- France is not the only EU country with which bilateral relations are in a dire state. Milei's comments regarding Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez's wife (who Milei called 'corrupt') have seen intergovernmental ties with Madrid damaged.
- Alongside Spain and France, relations with Brazil are also in the deep freeze.
- Combined, the three nations noted above accounted for 25.5% of all FDI stocks in Argentina in 2023 (see table below). As France24 notes, the deteriorating relations come as "Argentina seeks to lobby for support from major shareholders of the IMF, including France and the U.S., to reach a new deal for extra funds."
Table 1. FDI STOCKS BY COUNTRY
Source: Central Bank of Argentina, Santander
276 words