The Latin American Report # 376
Argentine President Javier Milei gave a new interview yesterday to journalist Esteban Trebucq, one of his main supporters at LN+ channel, whose basic editorial line is favorable to the leader of La Libertad Avanza. In the interview, which lasted about an hour, Milei returned to the usual comfortable and common places: to talk about the time bomb allegedly left by the Peronist government of Alberto Fernández, and on the other hand, about the “biggest fiscal adjustment in history” that he had to make as soon as he stepped into the Pink House, whose results would be enough to consider his government also as “the best in Argentine history”. The statistics to which Milei appeals speak of a now booming economy, where poverty has already decreased by almost nine points, “everything is beautifully colored” according to the libertarian liberal, but the data don´t explain the headache Argentines face for putting food on the table.
The excessive self-esteem in Milei continues to be worrying, as he brags about how much he is praised by political and business leaders around the world and all the requests for bilateral meetings that he has to turn down. Also noteworthy is the open subordination of his political movement to Donald Trump's, claiming that his government is “a MAGA one.” Focusing on the interviewer, we need Milei to sit down with a journalist like Carlos Pagni, who is also part of LN+ but does not limit his role to that of mere propagandist of the boss of Balcarce 50. A journalist who questions him a little more about the answers he has for the Argentine who is sinking in hunger, or the inconsistencies of his foreign policy on issues such as the relationship with China.
Trudeau vs. Sheinbaum?
Canada has emerged—perhaps surprisingly to some—as a disruptive player for Mexico in its relations with North America, as the ideological balance in key Canadian provinces tilts in favor of hawkish—that is: anti-Chinese—premiers in foreign policy. “We know Mexico is bringing in cheap Chinese parts, slapping made-in-Mexico stickers on, and shipping it up through the U.S. and Canada, causing American jobs to be lost and Canadian jobs. We want fair trade”, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said. Along with other premiers, Ford is pushing Trudeau to pull Canada out of a tripartite free trade agreement that now includes Mexico, and for the time being, only maintain this type of relationship with the United States. The Trudeau government is keeping this option open, sharing Washington's “concerns” over the Chinese issue, which will be channeled more aggressively after January 20.
SourceMigrants
By the way, this Thursday Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that the country was ready to assume the potential deportation of Mexican citizens currently living illegally in the United States. Sheinbaum again referred to her intention to convince Trump of the benefits of migrants for the U.S. economy before that potential step. Two caravans of migrants, one of which began its pilgrimage on Wednesday, continue on their way to the U.S. border, although they are still far south and are facing hostility from security forces, according to AP. Recent such efforts have fizzled out without achieving their goals. “It is going to be more difficult, that's why we are going in hopes of getting an appointment quicker so we can cross before he (Trump) takes office,” said a 23-year-old migrant from Venezuela.
2 mil migrantes salieron de #Tapachula, #Chiapas, rumbo a #EUA. Son familias enteras, con niños en brazos, huyendo de las penurias de su país natal. Y esta no es la única caravana que marcha hacia el norte: pic.twitter.com/VP37f0fuWn
— Nacho Lozano (@nacholozano) November 21, 2024
Also Mexico-related 👇
A prolific Mexican cartel leader allegedly faked his own death to live 'life of luxury' in California https://t.co/U2bseU178v
— KTLA (@KTLA) November 21, 2024
On Haiti 👇
Both China and Russia, which oppose a @UN peacekeeping mission for Haiti, question the legitimacy of the country's leaders to request such a force and say the conditions on the ground do not merit such a force. Yet Russia at least says the situation is "tragic" and "urgent."
— Jacqueline Charles (@Jacquiecharles) November 20, 2024
And this is all for our report today. I have referenced the sources dynamically in the text, and remember you can learn how and where to follow the LATAM trail news by reading my work here. Have a nice day.
