Argentina’s Milei pivots to pragmatism in first talks with China’s Xi after shaking up the G20

LA PAZ, Boliva — Last year, then-presidential candidate Javier Milei declared Argentina would not “make deals with communists” in China or Brazil, calling their leaders “murderers” and “thieves” in a bid to channel the populist energies of Donald Trump and other global far-right icons into a winning political message. Milei even acquiesced to a joint declaration endorsed by world leaders late Monday despite his earlier attempts to play spoiler to the G20 host, Brazil’s left-wing president Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva who was once called by Milei a “corrupt communist.” G20 leaders pose for a group photo without President Joe Biden, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni, at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print The final moments of the summit revealed Milei’s more pragmatic streak, coming as a surprise after the irascible president sought to undercut various international initiatives — withdrawing Argentine negotiators from the U.N. climate summit, casting the only “no” votes on two U.N. resolutions, one supporting Indigenous rights and another advocating for an end to violence against women, and roiling negotiations at the G20 summit. That pressure, he added, was “enough for Argentina to finally reduce its opposition.” India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, front left, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, front right, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, top left, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, top center, and Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz pose for a group photo during the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, front left, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, front right, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, top left, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, top center, and Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz pose for a group photo during the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024.