10 Global News Post 2

https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/opinion-and-analysis/playing-with-fire.phtml

This article is an opinion and analysis piece on Alberto Fernández, president of Argentina, and his recent actions involving international relations and a deal with the IMF. The author, Fontevecchia, argues that Fernández has an “informal style” of political communication, which does not play out well on the International stage, especially in times of global conflict. Fernandez recently met with both Vladimir Putin and Xi Jingping, in the context of the Ukraine-Russia conflict and China’s spreading global influence. Argentina is in debt to the IMF and is renegotiating a 2018 deal. Economy Minister Martín Guzmán reached general agreement about the terms, but a final plan has yet to pass through Argentina’s congress and the IMF board. The debt repayment is due in March. The loan that they must pay back was granted under the previous Maurcio Macri administration, and was supported by the Trump administration. Argentina joined China’s Belt and Road initiative and extended its currency swap and agreed on investment and collaboration with Russia. Argentina is attempting to be multilateral- there is a lot that it needs to do and it has plenty of objectives, so support from major geopolitical players is essential. During his visit to Russia, Fernández was quoted saying Argentina should stop being so dependent on the US and the IMF, and Russia has an important role as a different source of support. This was supposedly not received well in the US, as there are off-the-record reports that US State Department officials didn’t appreciate these remarks, as well as the fact that Argentina didn’t make any statement about Russian troop buildup on the Ukrainian border, despite being president of the UN Human Rights Council. The presidential spokesperson said there would be no statement regarding these comments. Fontevecchia says it’s unlikely these comments will ruin the IMF deal, but the government is “making things more difficult for itself”.

This article includes quotes from Fernández during his meeting with Putin and a press call from Barbados, which have been reported on throughout Argentine and global media. There is also mention of off-the-record sources from Washington, which is less credible.

The perspective of this article is very critical of President Alberto Fernández and his administration. Perfil, of which the Buenos Aires Times is part of, is known for being critical of the Fernández government. Fernández’s meetings with Russia and China on his presidential tour have received a mix of responses in Argentine media.