The foreign policy of Javier Milei's government is characterized by a disruptive approach, marked by unpredictable statements, polarizing ideological alliances, and an anarchic management that is beginning to take its toll on one of the most sensitive issues in Argentine diplomacy: the claim of sovereignty over the Malvina Islands . As the annual meeting of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization (C24), scheduled for June 18 , approaches, the fissures in international support are becoming evident, the product of an erratic strategy that antagonizes historical partners.
The recent incident involving the Argentine ambassador to Ethiopia, Juan Ignacio Roccatagliata, forced to close his social media account following a misinterpretation of a controversy, is merely a symptom of a larger problem: a lack of coherence in foreign policy . His meeting with the representative of Equatorial Guinea—a dictatorial regime—supposedly sought to secure support for the Malvinas cause. However, the lack of coordination between the Foreign Ministry and the high-flown rhetoric of libertarian officials generated confusion, exposing the fragility of a diplomacy that oscillates between voluntary isolation and improvisation.
The risk is no small feat. The C24, where Argentina has historically achieved unanimous support, is made up of countries that today view the government's ideological shift with suspicion . Cuba, key for its influence in the Caribbean, was publicly antagonized when Milei disavowed Argentina's vote against the US embargo, accusing its own diplomats of being "traitors." The anti-CELAC rhetoric, the unconditional alignment with Israel—amid international condemnation of Gaza—and the unnecessary friction with Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Venezuela reinforce the image of a country that burns bridges instead of building them.
Although anti-colonialism remains a guiding principle for many C24 members, Argentina's diplomatic laziness is worrying . The Foreign Ministry, now headed by Gerardo Werthein , is trying to contain the damage: some ambassadors have been instructed to step up their efforts, and the foreign minister is expected to attend the June 18 meeting. But credibility is eroded when the Malvinas Secretariat—whose rank could even be downgraded to Undersecretary—is relegated to officials without multilateral experience, such as Francisco Troppepi, the current UN representative.
The scenario is paradoxical : while the government celebrates symbolic gestures, such as the absurd rumor of annexing Annobon Island, it neglects the front where it is most needed . The international community continues to recognize the colonial nature of the Malvinas Islands, but Milei's lack of strategy and ideological outbursts could turn a unanimous demand into a fractured cause. The cost of this rift, self-managed by Milei, this time would be geopolitical.
