Argentina's President Javier Milei has made a significant decision to dismiss the country's Foreign Minister, Diana Mondino, following Argentina's vote at the U.N. General Assembly in favor of lifting the U.S. economic embargo of Cuba. The announcement of Mondino's replacement by Gerardo Werthein, the current Argentine ambassador to the U.S., was made by Milei's spokesman Manuel Adorni.
While the specific reasons for Mondino's dismissal were not provided, the timing of the decision, just hours after Argentina voted to end the embargo on Cuba, suggests a connection. The U.N. resolution condemning the U.S. embargo of Cuba received overwhelming support, with 187 nations, including Argentina, voting in favor, while only the United States and Israel opposed it.
President Milei, who assumed office in December 2023, has been steering Argentina's foreign policy towards closer alignment with U.S. and Israeli interests. This shift is evident in Milei's vocal support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government during the recent conflict in Gaza, a stance that sets Argentina apart from many other Latin American countries.
Unlike Bolivia and Colombia, which have severed ties with Israel, Argentina, under Milei's leadership, has maintained a pro-Israel stance. This position contrasts with the actions of several other countries in the region, such as Brazil, which have withdrawn their ambassadors from Tel Aviv in response to the Gaza conflict.
President Milei's decision to replace the Foreign Minister underscores the evolving foreign policy priorities of Argentina under his leadership. The country's alignment with U.S. and Israeli interests, as demonstrated by the recent U.N. vote on the Cuba embargo, reflects a strategic shift in Argentina's international relations.
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