Biden and Fernández talk in Washington on Economy and Climate

The President of the United States, Joe Biden, received his Argentine counterpart, Alberto Fernández, in Washington this Wednesday in a meeting focused on the economy and climate change, along with other issues of common interest such as the war in Ukraine and security. food.

Respect for human rights was also present on the agenda of the meeting, which coincides with the second Democracy Summit, promoted by Biden, who hosted a virtual panel with the participation of leaders from eight countries, including Ecuador and Panama.

The US president greeted Fernández, smilingly pointing out that this is a “meeting that has been preparing for a long time.” Both leaders had scheduled official talks last July, but the bilateral had to be suspended because Biden tested positive for COVID-19.

“I think we have a great opportunity after these 200 years of diplomacy,” Fernández began by thanking his counterpart for the support that the US provided to “Argentina and the entire continent by donating vaccines” against COVID-19.

The South American president mentioned that “more than once” both leaders have spoken “of the economic problems that Argentina is facing,” which, according to what he said, were “inherited” from the previous government, referring, without mentioning it, to the management of his predecessor, Mauricio Macri.

looking for support

“The international context does not help,” insisted Fernández, who recalled Buenos Aires’ support for Kiev against the Russian invasion, which, according to him, has caused “immeasurable damage to the world economy,” for which the countries must “work together and unite efforts” to achieve peace.

He also noted that “concern over climate change is common” for both governments.

“Argentina is suffering from the worst drought since 1929 in its history. This has greatly complicated our economy and we are raising this new reality with credit agencies. So I hope they continue to accompany us as they have done up to now,” he remarked.

Argentina is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) a new review of the Extended Facilities Agreement that refinanced the loan of about 44,000 million dollars, granted during the Macri government.

Buenos Aires has asked the IMF to review its requirements for the publication of the latest installment of the agreement, arguing that it has been negatively affected by a drought and higher energy prices caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Lastly, Fernández expressed his sympathy for the families of the victims of the most recent school shooting in the United States, this time at a religious school in Nashville, where six people died, plus the attacker, including three schoolchildren between the ages of eight and nine.

“When I got to Washington I saw the flags at half mast (…) I want to publicly express my support for his initiative to regulate the sale of arms In U.S.A. That idea that you lead is a problem that the world has. In my country there are those who propose that the sale of arms be released to defend themselves. So I really appreciate your initiative and know that you absolutely have an ally in me,” he assured.

The Argentine Foreign Ministers, Santiago Cafiero, the Minister of Economy, Sergio Massa, and Security, Aníbal Fernández, traveled in the official delegation.

Alberto Fernández participated over the weekend in the Iberoamerican Summit, based in the Dominican Republic, from where he traveled to New York on Monday and Tuesday. There he met with the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, in addition to holding talks with business leaders.

The Argentine president arrived in Washington this Wednesday morning and is expected to return to his country shortly after the meeting with Biden.

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