Republican legislator Maria Elvira Salazar, a well-known admirer of President Javier Milei, described the Argentine leader last Friday as "a moral beacon for the Western Hemisphere" and urged the U.S. Congress to include Argentina in the Alliance for Economic Prosperity in the Americas (APEP). The Republican representative posted a video of her recent speech in Congress on the social media platform X, addressing Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The video was accompanied by a letter to President Joe Biden advocating for Argentina's inclusion in APEP.
"Today, there is no president in Latin America with a more pro-freedom agenda than Javier Milei. He is working to reverse years of economic missteps in a country with tremendous but wasted potential," stated Salazar.
The former CNN and Telemundo anchor cited Milei's support for Blinken's agenda as an example: "Ukraine, Israel, anti-China, Venezuela, Cuba, Taiwan, open markets." Blinken responded by noting his visit to Argentina last February and expressed his willingness to consider Salazar's letter. Salazar retorted, "We need more Mileis in Latin America."
In her letter, the legislator emphasized that the Argentine president is "fighting to break free from the socialist curse." "Milei is giving Argentina the tough medicine it needs now to control inflation and undo decades of socialist mismanagement. What Argentina desperately needs now is the help of like-minded allies, such as the United States," she pointed out.
Recently, U.S. Congress members Mario Diaz-Balart, Maria Elvira Salazar, and Carlos Giménez, along with Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, all Florida Republicans, condemned the Biden administration's failure to exclude the Cuban regime from the list of countries not cooperating with terrorism, a decision made by the State Department.
For Maria Elvira Salazar, the measure is undoubtedly a sign that the White House is paving the way to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. "How is it possible that a dictatorship that finances terrorism in Latin America, supports Hamas, and harbors international terrorists on its soil now 'cooperates' with the United States on anti-terrorism?" she questioned.
Key Issues Around U.S. and Latin American Relations
Below are some frequently asked questions regarding the relationship between the United States and Latin American countries, particularly focusing on recent developments involving Argentina and Cuba.
Why does Maria Elvira Salazar support Javier Milei?
Maria Elvira Salazar supports Javier Milei because she views him as a pro-freedom leader who is working to correct years of economic mismanagement in Argentina. She believes he is a moral beacon for the Western Hemisphere.
What is the Alliance for Economic Prosperity in the Americas (APEP)?
The Alliance for Economic Prosperity in the Americas (APEP) aims to foster economic collaboration and growth across the Western Hemisphere. Salazar is advocating for Argentina's inclusion in this alliance.
What criticisms did Salazar make about the Biden administration's policies?
Salazar criticized the Biden administration for failing to exclude Cuba from the list of countries not cooperating with terrorism. She questioned how a regime that supports terrorism could be considered a cooperative partner.