Milei Attacks UN, Defends Malvinas Claim in Fiery Speech

President Javier Milei delivered a blistering address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, denouncing the body as a "useless organisation" of "arrogant parasites" and framing Argentina's Malvinas sovereignty claim as a formal protest against the institution's failure to uphold territorial integrity. He warned investors against exploiting resources under "illegal external occupation," a jab at the Falkland Islands Government's extension of offshore oil licences and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's defence of British possession.

Milei reaffirmed alignment with the United States and Israel, meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while insisting cooperation must not mean subordination. He also championed Artificial Intelligence and discussed a US$7-billion credit with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for 2025 infrastructure projects, though the loan's scope remains undefined.

“We will not be indifferent towards those who exploit resources under illegal external occupation”

Back home, the political win contrasted with economic deterioration. Country risk surged past 600 basis points, its highest level since March, driven by rising US interest rates, slowing reserve accumulation, and pre-election uncertainty. Bonds and stocks fell for consecutive sessions while the official dollar continued to climb.

Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof staged a parallel visit to New York to counter Milei's narrative, criticising the "economic miracle" alongside leftist allies Mayor Zohran Mamdani and former Spanish premier Pedro Sánchez. Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno also contested Burnham's stance on the islands.