Argentina’s President Javier Milei made the decision to replace Foreign Affairs Minister Diana Mondino after she voted in favor of lifting the U.S. embargo against Cuba at the United Nations. Milei, a libertarian who assumed office in late 2023, has a pro-United States stance and has been distancing Argentina from leftist trade partners such as Cuba and Venezuela.
At the U.N. General Assembly, a resolution was passed urging the United States to end its long-standing sanctions on Cuba, with only the U.S. and Israel opposing the measure. Milei, who aims to align Argentina with the U.S. and Israel, shared a post on social media applauding his government for not supporting dictatorships.
Gerardo Werthein, Argentina’s ambassador to the United States, will take over as the new foreign minister following Mondino’s removal. Mondino, a key member of Milei’s cabinet, played a crucial role in maintaining diplomatic relations with international partners despite the president’s controversial remarks about countries like Brazil and China.
Reports suggest that Milei was displeased when Werthein called to inquire about Argentina’s vote on the Cuba embargo issue while the president was having lunch. Earlier in the year, Argentina’s state energy company YPF refused to supply fuel to Cuban airline Cubana, leading the carrier to cease its Havana to Buenos Aires route that had been operational for almost four decades. Cuba’s foreign ministry stated that Argentine officials cited the U.S. embargo as the reason behind the decision.