BUENOS AIRES: Former US president Donald Trump phoned Argentina’s president-elect Javier Milei and said he would visit him in Buenos Aires, Milei’s office said on Thursday.

Trump, who had already sent a warm video message to congratulate Milei, called the libertarian outsider on Wednesday night and told him his victory “had a global impact.” “Former president Trump also indicated he would visit Buenos Aires to meet” Argentina’s new leader, said Milei’s office in a statement.

Milei’s abrasive style, disdain for political niceties and anti-system comments have often drawn comparisons with Trump. While Milei has expressed admiration for Trump and his “battle against socialism”, he did not mention the former American leader during his campaign.

On Sunday, Trump published a video message saying he was “very proud” of Milei and certain he would “make Argentina great again”.

Milei, who has said he wants the United States and Israel to be major allies of Argentina under his presidency, is set to travel to both countries on a private trip in coming days, local media report. Milei will take office on Dec 10.

They are both abrasive, have a penchant for insults and vulgarity, and boast an untamed mop of hair. However, comparing Argentina’s president-elect Javier Milei to former US president Donald Trump could be misleading, analysts say.

In the same way that the US media dubbed former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro the “Trump of the Tropics”, headlines were quick to refer to Milei as the “Trump of the Pampas” — referring to Argentina’s vast flat grasslands.

“There are some similarities but there are probably more differences,” said Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue think-tank in Washington.

He said Milei was the product of “an Argentine phenomenon… and the depth of the crisis and widespread desperation that people feel.”

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2023