Argentine President Javier Milei declared his intention to formalize a strategic partnership with the United States as permanent state policy during his annual address to parliament on Sunday. The libertarian leader emphasized that this alignment with the US, particularly under the potential leadership of ally Donald Trump, would define Argentina’s foreign policy direction for decades to come.
Milei characterized the South Atlantic as “the strategic battleground of the coming decades,” positioning Argentina as an essential regional player. “We must create the century of the Americas: Make Americas Great Again, from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego,” he proclaimed, adapting Trump’s famous campaign slogan to encompass the entire Western Hemisphere.
The president highlighted Argentina’s strategic advantages, noting the country’s possession of “critical minerals that the West needs” and substantial energy resources including gas, oil, nuclear power, and renewable energy capacity. He further emphasized Argentina’s unique geographical position with access to two oceans and a presence in Antarctica.
In a show of solidarity with Washington, Milei’s government endorsed recent US military strikes against Iran and placed the country on high alert. This alignment reflects Argentina’s longstanding concerns regarding Iranian influence, particularly following the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people, which Argentina attributes to Iran and Hezbollah.
Domestically, Milei unveiled an ambitious package of 90 structural reforms designed to comprehensively reshape Argentina’s institutional architecture for the next half-century. The proposed reforms span multiple sectors including economy, taxation, criminal justice, electoral systems, education, and defense. The president announced “nine uninterrupted months of structural reforms” that would fundamentally transform the nation’s governance framework.
This legislative agenda follows a period of political turbulence in 2025 marked by corruption allegations and currency instability. However, Milei enters the new parliamentary year from a position of strength, bolstered by electoral successes in recent midterm elections. His political momentum was further demonstrated by Congress’s recent adoption of his flagship labor modernization law, which introduces significant changes to working hours, dismissal procedures, overtime regulations, and strike limitations.
The labor reforms have sparked substantial public opposition, with thousands protesting what they perceive as a rollback of workers’ rights protections. Despite this opposition, Milei remains committed to his comprehensive reform agenda, positioning Argentina for what he describes as a new era of international alignment and domestic transformation.