Argentina’s President Javier Milei dismissed Foreign Minister Diana Mondino on Wednesday, just hours after the country supported a United Nations resolution aimed at lifting the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba.
The unexpected move saw Mondino replaced by Gerardo Werthein, Argentina’s ambassador to the U.S., as confirmed by spokesman Manuel Adorni on social media.
The announcement did not specify reasons for Mondino’s dismissal, but it followed the controversial vote at the U.N. General Assembly.
The President’s office subsequently issued a statement clarifying that the dismissal was directly related to the vote. “Our country is categorically opposed to the Cuban dictatorship, and it will remain firm in promoting a foreign policy that condemns all regimes that perpetuate the violation of human rights and individual freedoms,” Milei’s office declared.
Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino arrives at a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the bombing of the AMIA Jewish center that killed 85 people in Buenos Aires, Argentina, July 18, 2024. On Wednesday, Argentina’s President Javier Milei dismissed Mondino, hours after the country voted in favor of lifting the U.S. economic embargo of Cuba at the U.N. General Assembly.
Natacha Pisarenko/AP Photo
The resolution against the U.S. embargo garnered support from 187 nations, with only the United States and Israel opposing it.
Shift in Foreign Policy Direction
Since taking office in December 2023, Milei has shifted Argentina‘s foreign policy to align more closely with U.S. and Israeli interests.
He has openly supported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s government during its military actions in Gaza, contrasting sharply with much of Latin America.
Countries like Bolivia and Colombia have severed ties with Israel, while Brazil and others have recalled ambassadors from Tel Aviv, demonstrating a regional divide on this issue.
Newsweek has reached out to Argentina’s Foreign Relations Ministry for comment via email.
Diana Mondino’s Troubled Tenure
Mondino’s brief tenure as Foreign Minister has been marred by controversy. Last week, her office retracted a press release after mistakenly using “Falklands” instead of “Malvinas,” the name used in Argentina for the disputed territory.
Earlier, in May, she faced backlash for comments made during a visit to China, where she remarked that “all Chinese look like the same.”
Argentina’s President Javier Milei poses for pictures after ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Sept. 23, 2024. Since taking power in December 2023, libertarian Milei has veered his country’s foreign policy to be more aligned toward the U.S. and Israel interests.
Seth Wenig/AP Photo
These incidents contributed to a perception of instability within the Foreign Relations Ministry.
Internal Audit Planned for Foreign Relations Ministry
In light of Mondino’s departure, Milei’s administration announced plans for an internal audit of the Foreign Relations Ministry.
The aim is to identify individuals promoting agendas that conflict with the government’s stance on freedom and human rights.
As Argentina navigates this transitional period, the implications of these changes for its foreign relations remain to be seen. Milei’s government is poised to redefine its international posture in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, with implications for its relationship with both traditional allies and adversaries.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
