Southern Cone in April 2026: the most important developments in politics
In April 2026, Southern Cone politics centred on Argentina, above all President Javier Milei's visit to Israel. Around 19 to 21 April he signed a new cooperation agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pledged support and an embassy move, sang as guest of honour in Jerusalem and took part in Israel's 78th Independence Day ceremony, where he was chosen to light a torch. Reports said he backed the war on Iran and sought to align Latin America with Israel. Earlier in the month, Argentina confirmed the departure of a senior Iranian diplomat after an expulsion order.
At home, Milei faced pressure on several fronts. On 5 April he accused Vice President Victoria Villarruel of trying to sabotage him. Polls showed a tight race with Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof and Milei trailing in a hypothetical 2027 re-election bid, and a survey found that all members of his cabinet failed. Manuel Adorni faced resignation calls and inquiries, and questions were raised over an official flight to New York and an official's hotel payment in Aruba. An official at the tax agency ARCA was fired for failing to declare properties in the United States. The collapse of the PAMI health programme threatened Milei's agreements with provincial governors. A court reinstated his labour reform after a union challenge. On 24 April Milei said he would back Adorni in congressional elections and seek re-election himself, and on 22 April he promised electoral reform to end primary elections. A court ordered the seizure of assets of former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, and a further ruling cleared the way for more seizures.
The government signed into law a reform easing mining restrictions near glaciers, with both protests and investor interest reported. Later in the month, Argentina called for renewed talks with the UK over the Falkland Islands, and Villarruel told residents to return to the UK.
Elsewhere, Chile and the United States held talks on migration and security and were set to sign mining and security agreements, and two candidates presented bids for UN secretary-general.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
Click a day in the chart above for that day's brief.