BUENOS AIRES, Argentina :Argentina has decided not to join the BRICS group of emerging economies, keeping a campaign vow by the new far-right President Javier Milei who has promised to seek stronger relations with the West.
Milei wrote a letter to the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa on December 22, but it was made public on Friday. He said that Argentina’s membership in the group was not appropriate at this time.
He also said in his letter that his foreign policy “varies greatly from that of the previous government. Therefore, some of the choices made by the former administration will be reconsidered.”
Since becoming Argentina’s president in December, anarcho-libertarian Javier Milei has implemented a series of drastic economic measures. He also announced that he will align his foreign policy with Western nations, breaking away from his predecessor’s attempts to establish closer links with other emerging economies.
Alberto Fernandez, the former centre-left leader, had sought to join BRICS, a bloc that represents about a quarter of the world’s GDP. Argentina was expected to become a member on January 1, 2024.
Al Jazeera’s Monica Yanakiew, reporting from Buenos Aires, said that Milei has introduced sweeping reforms in his first three weeks in power.
“From speeding up divorces to freeing up prices to cutting subsidies, he has transformed every aspect of life here in a short time,” she said.
Milei campaigned against countries under “communist” regimes like China and Brazil, his neighbour and economic rival. He vowed to align his economy and foreign policy with “Western free nations” such as Israel and the US.
In his letter to the BRICS leaders, Milei said that Argentina would pursue stronger bilateral relations to boost trade and investment, but not as part of the group.
At home, Milei faces strong resistance from the influential unions as he implements a radical economic plan and deregulation while Argentina struggles with soaring inflation.
