Milei turns to Trump security rhetoric as Argentina’s economic woes deepen

Argentina's poverty rate has climbed to 32.2% and President Javier Milei's approval has hit its lowest point since taking office in 2023, as the JPMorgan country-risk index rises and public trust craters in independent polling. Rather than address the economic numbers, Milei has leaned into national security rhetoric echoing Trump, claiming his government survived 'seven coup attempts' and deported '20,000 terrorists since February.'

Human rights group CELS found the government ordered 5,216 expulsions over the past year, but only 1,098 were carried out, with none tied to terrorism according to CELS director Manuel Tufró. Analysts including Wilson Center's Benjamin Gedan note Argentina's crime problems don't approach Colombia's or Mexico's, and that voters care more about healthcare than Hezbollah.

Milei has deepened security ties with the Trump administration through the Shield of the Americas initiative, while lawmakers prepare to debate a bill creating a presidentially overseen National Security Council with broad power to define threats. Critics warn the council could be used to label individuals or groups as threats with little check.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.