The Argentine president Javier Milei has dismissed the head of Foreign Affairs of his government, Diana Mondino, after voting at the United Nations against the economic embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba and has appointed the current ambassador in Washington in his place.
“Argentina is going through a period of profound changes and “This new stage requires that our diplomatic corps reflect in every decision the values of freedom, sovereignty and individual rights that characterize Western democracies,” the presidency expressed in a statement when making Mondino’s departure and his replacement by Gerardo Werthein official.
This is the fourth change in the cabinet of ministers in a year of government.
Argentina was one of the 187 members of the United Nations that on Wednesday demonstrated in favor of ending the economic embargo on Cubawhich was imposed by the United States in 1960 after the revolution led by Fidel Castro and the nationalization of properties belonging to American citizens and corporations.
After assuming power in December 2023, Milei took a drastic turn to the foreign policy of the South American country and He aligned himself unconditionally with the United States and Israel, precisely the two nations that voted against the resolution at the United Nations.
“Our country is categorically opposed to the Cuban dictatorship and will remain firm in promoting a foreign policy that condemns all regimes that perpetuate the violation of human rights and individual freedoms,” Milei’s statement highlighted.
The vote at the United Nations was the last episode of Mondino’s eventful management at the head of Argentine diplomacy. In May, the chancellor traveled to China to put the relationship between both countries back on track after criticism what Milei had launched against the Asian giant during his campaign to take over the country’s presidency.
The official declared during an interview while on tour that “the Chinese are all the same,” referring to their physical features. It so happens that China is Argentina’s second largest trading partner and the destination of about 10% of its exports.
In the process of remodeling the Foreign Ministry, the president has also dismissed Mondino’s subordinates, mostly career diplomats. In their place he has appointed political leaders of his party, the far-right libertarian party La Libertad Avanza.
Last week the Foreign Ministry had to delete a statement about the Malvinas Islands, after a scandal broke out over identifying them as “Falklands”, name given by the English to the archipelago in the South Atlantic that is the subject of a dispute over its sovereignty.
