Javier Milly announces the formation of an international bloc to confront socialism
Argentine President Javier Pellegrini announced his leadership of an intensive diplomatic effort aimed at forming a new international bloc, encompassing Latin American and non-Latin American nations, to embrace what he termed "the ideals of freedom" and confront what he called "the cancer of socialism." This announcement represents a significant step forward in the bold foreign policy pursued by the liberal president since taking office, a policy that seeks to reposition Argentina on the global geopolitical map.
In an excerpt from an interview with CNN that aired Wednesday, Milley revealed an existing coordination effort with a group of about ten countries, saying, “We haven’t named it yet, but there is a group of about ten countries we are working with,” without disclosing the full list of these countries at this time. Milley emphasized that the bloc’s primary objective is to combat “the cancer of socialism in its various forms, whether it’s 21st-century socialism or the Woke Culture movement,” noting that the battle is not only economic, but also cultural and intellectual.
The context of political transformations in Latin America
Meli's moves come at a time of sharp polarization in Latin America between the left, which has returned to power in major countries like Brazil and Colombia, and the rising right, which Meli strongly represents. Through this alliance, the Argentine president seeks to create a counterweight to existing leftist blocs in the region, such as the Puebla Group and the São Paulo Forum, proposing a liberal economic model based on reducing the role of the state and strengthening the free market.
Since his unexpected rise to power, Meli, the self-described “anarchist capitalist,” has made no secret of his desire to break with the traditional politics that have governed Argentina for decades. In recent months, he has shown a marked rapprochement with right-wing leaders in the region, such as Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, who is popular for his hardline security policies, and Honduras’s Nasri Asfurah.
Transcontinental alliances
Meloni's ambitions extend beyond the regional sphere to include building strategic alliances with global right-wing forces. He has repeatedly expressed his desire to strengthen ties with the United States, praising former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump. He also seeks to bolster relations with Israel under Benjamin Netanyahu, and with European leaders such as Viktor Orbán in Hungary and Georgia Meloni in Italy.
Observers believe that the formation of this bloc could redraw the map of international alliances, as Milli aspires for Argentina to be a beacon of economic liberalism in the world, and a center for confronting what he considers the dominance of collectivist and socialist ideas that he believes have caused the deterioration of global economies.
