There will be several notable absences at the Dec. 10 inauguration of Argentina’s new President Javier Milei, including Lula da Silva of Brazil, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO). Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Viera will represent Lula; Mexico’s Foreign Ministry has not yet provided the name of a representative, with no love lost between AMLO and Milei. Milei did not invite the Presidents of Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba or Iran. Bolivian President Luis Arce has not yet decided whether to attend.
The presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is sure to be an attention grabber—perhaps more than Milei might wish. Zelenskyy warmly welcomed Milei’s election, called him right after his victory and clearly sees this new government as an opportunity to make inroads into Ibero-America, which he has tried to do for a year to no avail. Of course, who knows how long Zelenskyy will be in office to pursue relations with Argentina.
