Milei heads to New York for UN, investor meetings
Javier Milei is heading back to the United States next week for a New York visit packed with speeches, business meetings and a UN appearance, a trip that underscores how much his government is leaning on Washington and global capital as it tries to defend its economic program at home.
The Argentine president will speak at the 81st U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday before a series of closed-door meetings with economists, investors and Jewish community leaders, according to the itinerary reported by local media. It will be his 18th trip to the U.S. since taking office in December 2023, a frequency that reflects both the political and financial weight Milei places on foreign ties.
For investors, the significance is less about diplomacy than about policy credibility. Milei has made the U.S. his main international platform as he seeks to sell Argentina’s market-friendly overhaul, reassure creditors and court support from business figures who could eventually help fund a broader reopening of the economy.
The timing matters. The trip comes amid internal tensions in his government and criticism following the presentation of the 2027 budget, which has renewed scrutiny over how the administration plans to balance fiscal discipline with growth and social pressure. Milei’s challenge in New York will be to keep foreign audiences focused on reform momentum rather than domestic friction.
His schedule is designed to do exactly that. After arriving in New York on Tuesday morning, he is due to address Yeshiva Darchei Torah, receive the “Ohev Yisrael” award, meet economist Xavier Sala i Martín and Roberto Salinas, then deliver a speech at the UN before appearing at a conference on “Western Values, Economic Freedom & Strategic Security.” He is also set to meet Americas Society/Council of the Americas executives, Rabbi Simon Jacobson and later speak at The Economic Club of New York.
The market lens is straightforward: Milei is using one of the world’s most visible stages to reinforce an investor-friendly narrative at a moment when Argentina needs external confidence. That matters for sovereign risk, funding conditions and sentiment toward Argentine assets, which remain highly sensitive to signs that the reform agenda is intact.
The broader geopolitical message is just as clear. Milei is expected to restate Argentina’s alignment with the U.S. and Israel, part of a foreign-policy shift that distinguishes him from previous Argentine governments and may help him deepen relationships with Western policymakers and capital providers.
Any new commitments added to the itinerary could further widen the trip’s economic significance, especially if they include additional contacts with financiers or multilateral players. For markets, the key question is whether Milei returns with stronger international backing at a time when Argentina needs it most.
| Entity | Gains | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| Javier Milei government | ▲Greater investor visibility | ▼Domestic critics |
| Argentine assets | ▲Reform credibility boost | ▼Policy uncertainty |
| U.S./global business leaders | ▲Access to reform agenda | ▼Exposure to Argentina risk |
| Argentina’s opposition | ▲Limited leverage abroad | ▼Milei’s international stage |