Argentina's President Milei fires foreign minister after voting to lift embargo against Cuba By Reuters
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina's President Javier Milei on Wednesday replaced Foreign Minister Diana Mondino after she voted to lift the US embargo against Cuba at the United Nations.
Milei, a liberal who takes office in late 2023, has staunchly supported the United States and taken a soft stance toward leftist trade partners in the region and overseas, including taking steps to distance Argentina from Cuba and Venezuela.
Earlier on Wednesday, the UN General Assembly strongly called on the United States to end the decades-old embargo on Cuba, in a non-binding resolution opposed only by the US and Israel.
Milei, who said she wants Argentina to align with the US and Israel, shared a text on social media from a lower house lawmaker praising her government for “not supporting or aligning with a dictator.”
Gerardo Werthein, who was Argentina's ambassador to the United States, will replace Mondino as the country's foreign minister, said presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni on X.
Mondino, one of the first members of Milei's cabinet to be confirmed, has played a key role in maintaining smooth diplomatic relations with international partners despite the president's comments on countries such as Brazil and China.
Milei was having lunch when she received a call from Werthein asking about Argentina's vote in favor of canceling the agreement with Communist-ruled Cuba, which angered the right-wing leader, local newspaper TN reported.
Earlier this year, Argentine energy company YPF said it would not supply fuel to Cuba's airline, Cubana, prompting the state-run airline to close the route between Havana and Buenos Aires for nearly four decades.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba at the time said that Argentine officials cited the US embargo to protect this measure.
