Argentina's President Javier Milei, a known supporter of Israel, has asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay a planned visit to Buenos Aires. The decision comes ahead of critical parliamentary elections in Argentina, with Milei's team citing concerns about potential political fallout .
The request was made while Netanyahu was in the United States for the UN General Assembly. Following his engagements in the U.S., the Israeli prime minister intended to travel to Argentina, one of the few nations that has been open to hosting him recently . Argentine officials stressed that postponing the visit was a general policy applied to all foreign leaders during the country's campaign season and was not a decision aimed specifically at Israel .
This move highlights the complex political situation facing President Milei. Despite his strong personal and political alignment with Israel, he faces a weakened political standing and a challenging electoral battle at home .
Javier Milei has been one of Israel's most vocal international supporters since taking office. His February 2024 visit to Israel was his first bilateral overseas trip as president, during which he announced plans to move Argentina's embassy to Jerusalem and declared Hamas a terrorist organization . He has often spoken of his admiration for Israel and the Jewish people .
Because of this close relationship, the request to postpone Netanyahu's trip points to the significant domestic pressures Milei currently faces. His popularity has suffered recently amid Argentina's deep economic challenges . With parliamentary elections next month, his party is facing a major test of its policies .
The decision to delay the visit is closely tied to Argentina's upcoming legislative elections. These elections are seen as the first major electoral test of Milei's severe austerity policies and economic reform agenda . A recent poll shows that roughly 54 percent of Argentines now disapprove of his leadership, a significant increase from 44 percent in June .
Adding to the political complexity, Argentine human rights lawyers filed a criminal complaint in a federal court last month. The complaint seeks Netanyahu's arrest should he enter the country, citing alleged war crimes connected to an incident in Rafah in March . In early August, a federal court had already issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu following petitions from a state workers' union and a human rights group . While the official reason for postponing the visit was the election season, these legal threats created an additional layer of risk for a high-profile visit.
President Milei's political power appears to be waning as the election approaches. His party suffered a stunning loss in a key provincial election earlier this month, and a defiant Congress has pushed back on his budget plans . Thousands of Argentines have taken to the streets to protest spending cuts that have led to rising poverty .
The economic context is difficult. Although Milei has successfully reduced inflation from 12.8 percent to below 2 percent, the cost has been high . Nearly a third of Argentines now live in poverty, and the economy has slowed, raising fears of a recession . This has made the upcoming vote a referendum on his "chainsaw" approach to public spending.
Despite the postponed visit, the diplomatic relationship between the two countries remains firm. Milei and Netanyahu did meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York recently. After that meeting, Netanyahu's office released a statement expressing "deep appreciation" for Milei, whom he called "a true friend of the State of Israel and the Jewish people" .
The two leaders also discussed expanding economic ties and further cooperation . Just a few months ago, in June 2025, Milei reaffirmed his pledge to move Argentina's embassy to Jerusalem . These actions suggest the bond at the leadership level remains strong, even if the visit's timing was politically inconvenient.
The situation shows how domestic political realities can sometimes complicate even the closest of international friendships. For now, President Milei has chosen to focus on his immediate political challenges at home, even if it means asking a key ally to wait.