Southern Cone in February 2026: the most important developments in politics
In the Southern Cone in February 2026, the most widely reported development was Chile's nomination of Michelle Bachelet for the post of United Nations secretary-general. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum backed the candidacy on 4 February, saying it was "time for a woman to lead the UN".
In Argentina, President Javier Milei pressed for a quick labor reform while managing tensions at home. He launched a surprise offensive against Social Development Minister Sandra Pettovello, an ally, which reportedly shocked his cabinet. On 6 February he ordered the prosecutor to drop a case against Economy Minister Luis Caputo and former central bank chief Federico Sturzenegger. A nationwide poll on economic management put Milei ahead of his main rival, Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof.
Argentina also turned to Venezuela and the United States. It asked Washington for help in securing the release of an Argentine citizen detained in Venezuela. It then formally requested the extradition of Nicolás Maduro from the United States on charges of crimes against humanity, citing alleged crimes between 2014 and 2017. The U.S. State Department acknowledged receipt and said the request was under review, while also denying it had any deportation agreement with Argentina.
Elsewhere, the president of Uruguay made a state visit to China, visiting a university in Beijing, meeting the Chinese premier and travelling to Shanghai. Chilean politician José Antonio Kast ended a European tour in Rome with a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, where he expressed interest in Italy's prison model.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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