The president of Argentina, Javier Milei, has announced his intention to join the policy of reciprocal tariffs defended by Donald Trump, the Republican President of the United States. In a speech at a conservative convention near Washington, Milei lashed out against “a political class with God’s complex.” He expressed his desire to eliminate the State, a notion that has been a central theme in his presidency.
Trump plans to apply “reciprocal tariffs” as of April 2, which involves imposing on each country the same level of customs rates as those established by the US on their products. Milei stated that Argentina wants to be the first country to join this reciprocity agreement in commercial matters. This move comes as Washington is set to impose new 25% tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum from all its commercial partners, with Argentina being one of the most affected Latin American countries.
Milei emphasized that if Argentina were not restricted by Mercosur, the South American block it integrates with Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay, the country would already be working on a free trade agreement with the US that is mutually beneficial. He also needs the support of the White House to negotiate a new agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), whose director, Kristalina Georgieva, held a meeting earlier this week.
A Call for “Second Independence”
In his speech, Milei spoke about the need for “a second independence” for Argentina and the US, freeing them from the “tyranny of the State Party.” He interacted with the public in both Spanish and English, stating that he and Trump are not a danger to democracy, but rather to the political establishment. Milei asserted that they have a clear mandate to take away power that does not belong to the State Party, making them “their worst nightmare.”
Advocating for a “Right International”
Milei proposed forming an alliance of nations, a “right-wing international,” to counter the “political caste.” He applauded the dismantling of a government agency for distributing aid worldwide, accusing it of poor fund management, and criticized electoral frauds, such as in Brazil. The Argentine president also echoed Trump’s statements, denouncing the arrest of individuals in European countries for expressing themselves on social media.
Milei defended his “dear friend” Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, whom Trump entrusted to cut federal public spending. He also lashed out against “governments with discriminatory aspirations” such as South Africa, which has been criticized by Washington. Milei vowed to continue using the “deep chainsaw” to shrink the State, which he believes is the enemy of Western societies, embodied by a “political class with a complex of God” that he calls the “State Party.”
Throughout his speech, Milei maintained his characteristic controversial tone, beginning with his signature “Hello everyone” and ending with his war cry: “Long live freedom, hell!” The Argentine president’s words have sparked intense debate, particularly in the context of the “cryptogate” scandal, which involves a cryptocurrency that collapsed after he promoted it.
