At the CPAC conference, Argentine president Javier Milei proposed a free trade initiative with the US, gaining attention for his support of Donald Trump's policies. Meanwhile, Milei faces corruption allegations due to his involvement with a dubious crypto asset.
US-Argentina Trade Proposal
Javier Milei proposed a free trade deal between Argentina and the US, agreeing with Trump's reciprocity agenda. According to him, the only hindrance is Argentina's membership ties to the South American trade bloc Mercosur. 'I want to take this chance to announce that Argentina wants to be the first country in the world to join this reciprocal accord that the Trump administration proposed on trade matters,' stated Milei.
Milei's Support for Trump's Strategy
At the CPAC conference, Milei met with Donald Trump and showed support for his reciprocal tariff plans, criticized by other countries. They also discussed economic measures important for both countries. Milei repeatedly endorsed Trump's strategies, criticizing other politicians and proposing collaboration with countries sharing his ideology. He held talks with Elon Musk and Kristalina Georgieva on economic matters, symbolically handing Musk a chainsaw as a symbol of reducing bureaucracy.
Crypto Scandal Investigation
Amid trade negotiations, Milei faces an investigation for promoting the LIBRA cryptocurrency. His post on platform X led to a sharp increase in its value, but a subsequent asset sell-off resulted in the token's collapse. The affair, dubbed 'cryptogate', involves other figures, including the founder of Melania Trump's meme coin. Milei distanced himself after the token's plunge, deleting his posts but remains under investigation for fraud, authority abuse, and bribery.
Javier Milei's actions draw interest in his international and domestic policies. His support of US policies and trade proposals occurs against the backdrop of a crypto scandal investigation, putting his political and economic strategies under scrutiny.