Javier Milei met with the head of the United States Southern Command at Casa Rosada

Accompanied by a prominent delegation, the head of the United States Southern Command, Admiral Alvin Holsey, arrived this morning at the Casa Rosada to hold a meeting with President Javier Milei, in the context of the growing rapprochement between the Argentine government and the administration of Donald Trump.

Holsey spoke with the Argentine president for just over 45 minutes. The meeting was recorded in an image shared through the official account of the Office of the President (@OPRArgentina).

"President Javier Milei received at Casa Rosada the Commander of the United States Southern Command, Admiral Alvin Holsey, along with his delegation. The Minister of Defense, Luis Petri, also participated in the meeting," stated the message published on social media.

The admiral arrived at the main entrance of Balcarce 50 at 10:53, being received by the head of the Military House, Sebastián Ibáñez, and by Minister Petri. The visit concluded at 11:43. He was accompanied in the audience by Abigail Dressel, the current chargé d'affaires and highest authority of the U.S. embassy in the country, and Major General Julian Cheater, director of Strategy, Policy, and Plans of the Southern Command.

Previously, the head of the Southern Command had appeared at the Libertador Building —located a few meters from the government headquarters—, where the Ministry of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces operate. There he was received at 10 by Brigadier General Xavier Isaac, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a formal ceremony that included a protocol reception and an institutional photograph.

The meeting between Admiral Holsey and President Javier Milei at the Casa Rosada represented the most significant moment of the Southern Command's visit to Argentina, a country that enjoys a privileged relationship with the United States.

One of the clearest signs of the good understanding between the libertarian government and the administration of Donald Trump was the recent arrival in the country of the U.S. Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent. The influence of the White House was also decisive for the International Monetary Fund to approve the new agreement for 20 billion dollars.

From Washington they consider Argentina their main strategic ally in the region. They also appreciate the democratic and institutional stability that the country has managed to maintain over time. In that line, Milei reiterated that during his term, the United States will be one of his two most relevant international partners along with Israel, a stance not shared by other communist presidents in the region such as those of Brazil, Chile, or Colombia.

After their arrival in the country yesterday afternoon, the Southern Command reported through their account on X (formerly Twitter) that the main purpose of the trip was to hold meetings with political and defense authorities with the aim of "strengthening defense cooperation." "Argentina is a reliable partner in the region, committed to democracy, security, and development," they noted.

The Southern Command —known by its English acronym as SOUTHCOM— is the body that directs U.S. military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Its head keeps constant dialogue with the governments of the region to coordinate actions in key areas such as security, drug trafficking combat, and humanitarian aid.

The first visit of the Southern Command

This is the second official visit of the Southern Command since Milei assumed the presidency. Last year, his predecessor, General Laura Richardson, made an official tour that included meetings in Buenos Aires and a visit to Ushuaia, where she led an event alongside the Argentine president.

The city of Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego, holds considerable strategic value due to its proximity to Antarctica. Holsey is scheduled to travel there this Wednesday. During his stay, he will tour the Austral Naval Area accompanied by Abigail Dressel, the Naval Defense Attaché of the U.S. embassy, Kenneth Patrick Ward, and other members of the delegation. They will then hold talks with local Navy authorities.

In addition to the morning meetings, the admiral's agenda includes a dinner at the Bosch Palace, the headquarters of the U.S. embassy, in which Minister Luis Petri will participate on behalf of the Argentine government.