Milei to Meet Meloni, Pope Leo, Netanyahu on 10-Day International Tour
President Javier Milei will begin a 10-day international tour on June 5, featuring crucial meetings with Pope Leo XIV, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. The trip includes significant agreements and discussions aimed at enhancing diplomatic and economic relations, with returns scheduled for June 14.
President Javier Milei is set to embark on an extensive international tour starting Thursday, June 5. This journey, which spans ten days, will include key meetings with significant global leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Argentina’s presidency confirmed these details on Friday, marking this as Milei’s longest foreign trip since he took office.
The first leg of Milei’s tour will launch in Rome, where an important meeting with Meloni is scheduled at the Chigi Palace on June 6. This comes on the heels of an agreement signing between Argentina’s state energy firm YPF and ENI, their Italian counterpart. The president, who shares ideological similarities with Meloni, has previously discussed the prospect of Italy becoming part of a “league of nations” to establish a new multilateral organization.
A significant part of the tour includes a meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican set for June 7. Leo XIV, the first American-born pope and a former missionary in Peru, reportedly has a keen interest in advancing relations with Latin America. Following this engagement, Milei plans to make a stop in Spain, where he will participate in the conclusion of the Madrid Economic Forum.
Milei is not scheduled to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, reflecting a strained relationship between the two leaders. Unlike Sánchez, French President Emmanuel Macron has met with Milei several times since his election in December 2023. The two are set to reconvene in Nice on June 9.
The Israeli segment of Milei’s tour is particularly noteworthy, marking his second official visit since assuming office. Upon arriving in Israel on June 9, he is expected to meet with both President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Netanyahu. The agenda also includes a visit to the historic Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.
On June 11, Milei will receive the prestigious Genesis Prize, often described as the “Jewish Nobel,” during which he will address the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament. Argentina’s Ambassador to Israel, Axel Wahnish, confirmed that a new air route connecting Buenos Aires and Tel Aviv will be announced during this visit, symbolizing unity between Argentina and Israel.
Additionally, Milei aims to sign a “memorandum for democracy and freedom” during his stay in Israel. He will also meet relatives of those kidnapped by Hamas, addressing their concerns and hopes. After wrapping up his engagements, Milei is scheduled to return to Buenos Aires on June 14, following a brief stop in Spain.
President Javier Milei’s upcoming international tour marks a significant diplomatic effort, aiming to strengthen ties with Europe and the Middle East. With meetings scheduled with Pope Leo XIV, Prime Minister Meloni, and Prime Minister Netanyahu, Milei’s agenda is both ambitious and historically significant, especially the focus on cooperation with Israel. The new air route and the signing of the ‘memorandum for democracy and freedom’ underline the significance of these international relations for Argentina in the current geopolitical landscape.
Original Source: batimes.com.ar
