Oxenford, ambassador to the US: 'The world admires President Milei's economic plan'

Alec Oxenford is the current ambassador of Argentina to the United States and one of the key figures in the relaunch of the bilateral relationship during Javier Milei's administration. Since his arrival in Washington, he has been working on strategic initiatives that include joining the Visa Waiver program, political rapprochement with the Donald Trump administration, and the promotion of investments in sectors such as energy, mining, and technology.

In this interview with La Derecha Diario,Oxenford details the most relevant diplomatic advances of recent months, highlights the impact of Milei's leadership on the international perception of Argentina, and shares personal anecdotes that reflect the renewed interest the country is generating worldwide. He also addresses his transition from the private sector to public service, teamwork within the Government, and the challenges of building a new country brand based on credibility, predictability, and results.

The progress of the Visa Waiver: "We moved faster than anyone expected"

Oxenford confirmed that negotiations to add Argentina to the visa waiver program with the U.S. formally began in April, but that the country already had prior technical conditions that accelerated the process.

"One of the people involved told me that what they thought would take a couple of years took us less than three months," he stated.

The ambassador explained that a working group was created, made up of diplomats from the Foreign Ministry, Security officials, Interior officials, and the embassy, with direct support from President Milei and ministers Gerardo Werthein, Patricia Bullrich, and Guillermo Francos.

"The proposal to sign the agreement came from the U.S. government itself", he emphasized.

International image: from distrust to admiration

One of the most compelling points of the interview was the change in international perception that, according to Oxenford, Argentina has been experiencing since Milei came to power.

"The world admires President Milei's economic plan. They love the ideas, but what impresses them are the results," he said.

According to the ambassador, today Argentina is seen as a country that has started to deliver on its promises, which has caused an unprecedented wave of confidence in multilateral forums, financial markets, and allied governments.

"I've never seen an Argentine president with such a positive image abroad", he highlighted.

From entrepreneur to diplomat: "I couldn't not support this project"

Known for his career in the tech world—he was the founder of OLX and Letgo—Oxenford acknowledged that he never actively sought a diplomatic position, but accepted the challenge out of personal conviction. "I always dreamed that liberal ideas would be implemented in Argentina. When that started to happen, how could I not join?" he expressed.

When evaluating his contribution, he explained that many entrepreneurial skills—such as persuasion, the ability to synthesize, and organizational leadership—are key for his role as ambassador. "The embassy is an organization. You have to have vision, motivate teams, and work efficiently. That's not so different from the private sector", he stated.

Investments and cooperation: energy, lithium, and defense

Oxenford also reviewed the areas of cooperation with the United States and emphasized the depth of the current relationship. He mentioned record investments in Vaca Muerta, lithium mining, and new opportunities opened by the RIGI incentive regime.

"Forty percent of the lithium imported by the United States comes from Argentina. Meanwhile, we discovered the largest copper deposit in 30 years," he said.

He also highlighted the support received in multilateral organizations such as the IMF and the IDB, the growing exchange in health, education, and defense, and joint efforts in security, drug trafficking, and migration control.

"Today there is multidimensional cooperation.  I can hardly think of an area in which the United States isn't our main partner," he asserted.

A new Argentina: "Predictability, consistency, and fulfillment"

In closing, the ambassador insisted that the country's transformation is not just rhetoric: it is supported by concrete actions, a professional team, and strategic vision. "We are becoming predictable for the world. Something is said and it is fulfilled. That's the most revolutionary thing," he summarized.

He concluded: "We know there is still a long way to go. But we come from a worse place than others, and that's why we work harder, with enthusiasm and with a smile."