Published: June 11, 2025
After visiting Spain and Italy, Argentine President Javier Milei arrived in France and met with President Emmanuel Macron on Monday. The meeting focused on collaboration in the exploitation of critical minerals, the development of nuclear energy, and progress on the EU–Mercosur trade agreement.
The encounter took place in Nice during the United Nations Ocean Conference—a controversial setting for Milei, who has criticized the UN as a “multi-tentacled Leviathan” imposing a socialist agenda and dismissed global warming as “just another socialist lie.”
Despite ideological differences, Macron greeted Milei with a warm embrace at the summit’s opening. While Macron defended climate science and denounced denialism, Milei attended but remained silent during the discussions.
The bilateral meeting—the third between the two in a year—also included Karina Milei, Secretary General of the Argentine Presidency. According to official reports, Macron thanked Milei for his presence and praised Argentina’s economic improvements. In turn, Milei gifted Macron books by Spanish economist Jesús Huerta de Soto and expressed appreciation for France’s support in international forums such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The hour-long meeting addressed deepening French investment in the extraction of lithium, copper, and other strategic minerals in Argentina. Both governments plan to formalize an alliance to boost mining activity and scientific cooperation for resource detection. They also expressed shared interest in nuclear energy development, with Argentina seeking French partnership in its recently unveiled National Nuclear Plan.
Additionally, they discussed the long-delayed EU–Mercosur trade agreement. After years of impasses, the current geopolitical climate—especially trade tensions initiated by former U.S. President Donald Trump—has revived momentum for finalizing the deal. Both Milei and Macron now appear open to closing the agreement, with expectations set for a final consensus by the end of 2025.