President Javier Milei has confirmed his participation in the Mercosur summit, which will take place next Saturday, December 20, in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. As reported by Noticias Argentinas, the head of state will attend the event amid uncertainty regarding the trade agreement between the regional bloc and the European Union. An important source with access to the presidential office stated that while Argentina is in favor of free trade, it faces resistance from France and Italy. Milei is expected to deliver a speech insisting on the benefits of free trade and the need for member countries to open up commercially, as well as to eliminate regulations that hinder agreements with other nations. The plan is to reiterate the virtues of free trade and the necessity for member states to open up commercially. Despite significant differences with the leader of the Workers' Party (PT), Milei will travel on Friday and return after the event concludes. The Milei administration hopes to form an informal right-wing alliance including Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru that aligns with the policies of U.S. Republican Donald Trump. However, both Italy and France are reluctant to sign the agreement that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had anticipated, which could now be postponed to 2026. The Casa Rosada (the Argentine government) had anticipated this possibility, noting that the long-awaited agreement, which has been pending for at least 20 years, faces resistance from some European countries. "I am not optimistic," they stated in the government.
