Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, has just completed an official visit to Germany this week. Olaf Scholz, the chancellor of the German government, welcomed Milei in Berlin on Sunday for their first meeting during a trip abroad. Despite a brief meeting that was scheduled to last about an hour, the encounter between the two leaders marked a significant moment in Argentine-German relations.
Milei’s first meeting with a socialist head of government since taking office as president six months ago did not follow the usual format for receiving a foreign leader in Berlin. The spokesperson for the German Executive, Steffen Hebestreit, confirmed that the meeting was requested by the Argentine president and denied the possibility of a joint press conference.
Prior to his visit to Germany, Milei attended a ceremony in Hamburg where he received a medal from the Hayek Society. During the ceremony, he criticized socialists for attacking him and claimed that their approach to radical adjustment was working as the Argentine economy was starting to recover. Outside the chancellery in Berlin, activists protested Milei’s visit with banners and chants.
Overall, despite some protests and political differences, Milei’s visit to Germany paved way for further cooperation between Argentina and Germany on various issues such as trade and investment opportunities.