During the 29th Ibero-American Summit in Ecuador, Cuba and Argentina engaged in a fiery dispute, culminating without an official declaration from the 19 attending nations after the confrontation. The Cuban representative, Rodolfo Benítez, accused Argentina of attempting to sabotage the summit by denying climate change and the rights of women and indigenous peoples. He claimed Argentina failed in this endeavor, as they were isolated from a declaration signed by all other participants except the government of the far-right Javier Milei.
Meanwhile, the Argentine ambassador, Eduardo Acevedo, declared that his country "cannot and will not remain indifferent to the violations of the rule of law and human rights" in Cuba. He asserted that "according to the Argentine government, it is Cuba that must restore democracy and respect the human rights and freedoms of its citizens." Acevedo emphasized that international organizations have long criticized Cuba for its authoritarian regime, using the well-known phrase "Ladran, Sancho, señal que cabalgamos," suggesting that criticism only proves Argentina's continued progress in defending human rights.
Cuba maintained that failing to condemn the U.S. economic blockade on the island was unacceptable. In response, the Argentine delegation not only distanced itself from agreements supporting women's rights but also criticized Cuba's internal situation, citing a lack of democracy and human rights violations.
Focus on Broader Issues
The debate also revolved around Cuba's expectation for a formal statement on the U.S. embargo, while Argentina chose not to support agreements involving gender equality or democracy in certain regional countries. This clash is not an isolated incident. Under Javier Milei's leadership, Argentina has adopted a more skeptical stance on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate change, aligning with right-wing rhetoric and criticisms of what Milei has termed "cultural Marxism." This approach was evident in Argentina's withdrawal from COP29, marking a shift away from the international climate agenda.
Despite the intense exchange, the host foreign minister, Gabriela Sommerfeld, confirmed the summit's success, noting that the absence of presidents did not prevent reaching agreements. The Secretariat now passes to Spain, tasked with the challenge of uniting member countries to ensure greater presidential presence at the 2026 Summit.