Milei dismisses Foreign Minister Mondino after voting at the UN against the US embargo on Cuba

Argentine President Javier Milei made the decision to dismiss Foreign Minister Diana Mondino after Argentina supported a resolution in the UN General Assembly urging the United States to lift the economic embargo on Cuba. The vote, a historic stance for the South American country, contradicts the approach of the Milei government to foreign policy, which has been openly critical of communist regimes. The former official will be replaced by Gerardo Werthein, who held the position of ambassador to the United States.

The text of the UN resolution, which was presented on Wednesday by the Cuban government, obtained the support of 187 countries, with only the United States and Israel voting against and Moldova abstaining. Argentina’s position was aligned with its previous votes, but caused an impact on Milei’s administration. The president’s only public reaction was a “retweet” from deputy Sabrina Ajmechet: “Proud of a government that does not bank nor is an accomplice to dictators. Long live #CubaLibre.”

The presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, confirmed the change in the Foreign Ministry with a message on the social network: “The new chancellor of the Argentine Republic is Mr. Gerardo Werthein.” In turn, the Government announced that an audit will be carried out in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to identify “drivers of agendas that are enemies of freedom”, as part of an initiative to reinforce democratic values ​​in its diplomatic corps and move away from authoritarian regimes.

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— Office of the President (@OPRArgentina) October 30, 2024

The decision to dismiss Mondino generated surprise at the headquarters of the Chancellery, the San Martín Palace, since his closeness to Milei was known. However, his departure was abrupt and caused confusion among ministry employees, who saw tension increasing, but expected a consensual withdrawal around 2025.

Internal sources indicated that Mondino had not had a direct role in the UN vote, which responded to a traditional position of the country. For some diplomats, the incident reflects a lack of understanding of the Foreign Ministry’s internal procedures. However, within La Libertad Avanza, the UN vote was perceived as a contradiction to the party’s anti-communist principles and stoked internal tensions in the administration.

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This event also intensified doubts about the future of Milei’s relationship with her diplomatic team, since the former official had already had disagreements with employees of her portfolio, especially over the reintroduction of the fourth category of Income Tax, promoted by the Government.

Before her dismissal, Diana Mondino developed an intense agenda in Asia, a region where she had promoted the opening of markets for Argentine products and promoted investments in strategic sectors. Mainly, in recent weeks the work of the Foreign Ministry had focused on improving diplomatic relations with China, which are not at their best under Milei’s presidency. Werthein will now have the job of continuing with diplomatic efforts, in view of the Argentine president’s next visit to Beijing in January 2025.

Regarding Argentina’s position at the UN, the country has traditionally maintained a position against the US embargo on Cuba, arguing consistency with its own claims for the sovereignty of the Malvinas Islands before the United Kingdom. However, this endorsement was seen by Milei’s circle as a blow to his anti-communist rhetoric, which accelerated Mondino’s departure and left uncertain the approach Argentina will take to its foreign policy under Werthein’s leadership.

Who Gerardo Werthein