Foreign policy swings spark controversy and force government to explain

Has the government changed Alberto Fernandez your foreign policy? The government’s response is simple: no. For the opposition, there is no doubt, the turn is total.

Overtime, the national government adapted its discourse on central issues: Venezuela, Israel and the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Paris ClubThese are paradigms, but not the only ones. The “subdivision” of key embassies is also a sample of the peculiarities of the political leadership of a front with different views on international issues.

Venezuela.

-28/11/2019, on the political and social situation in Venezuela. “We will remain in the Lima group,” announced Felipe Solá, the one chosen by President-elect Alberto Fernández to succeed Chancellor.

-13/10/2020, the first important difference appears: the government does not sign a condemnation of the Lima group against Nicolás Maduro.

On March 24, 2021, Argentina left the Lima Group and withdrew its support for the trial against Maduro which is being processed at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

Israel.

-21/1/2020, President Alberto Fernández visited the Hebrew State and met the Prime Minister of that country, Benjamin Netanyahu. It was the first international trip as head of state.

-11/5/2021, amid escalating violence between Israel and Hamas, the foreign ministry issued a statement expressing concern over the situation and stressing the “disproportionate use of force” by Israel.

-27/5/2021, the UN Human Rights Council, with the vote of Argentina, opened an investigation into possible human rights violations in Israel and the Palestinian territories .

Regarding the debt, after the positive passage through Europe, which included meetings with Emmanuel Macron (France), Padreo Sánchez (Spain), Mario Draghi (Italy) and the owner of the Fund, Kristalina Georgieva –And a video call with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel– The hard kirchnerism tried to boycott with the so-called “Proclamation of May 25” any type of approach announcing that the disbursement of fresh dollars from the IMF was to be used for social spending and demanded the immediate suspension of the payment of the debt exterior. Once again, confused and contradictory signals.

Despite the examples, the government justified the changes in international policy.

“Foreign policy has one great virtue: it is predictable and appreciated around the world. Within the framework of the UN Human Rights Council, Argentina always accompanies Michelle Bachelet’s proposals, whether with Venezuela, Nicaragua, Belarus or with Israel and Palestine, as it happens. is produced yesterday, ”said the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Felipe Solá.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs explained to THE NATION that “the commission of inquiry into possible human rights violations in Israel and Palestine is similar to that which was voted for Venezuela, in both cases, in accordance with its history, Argentina voted for”.

Solá also, regarding the abandonment of the sponsorship of the complaint against the Caribbean country, argued that it was a “direct consequence of the political decision of our government to leave the Lima Group”. And he added: “As we no longer belong to this body, we do not follow up on their complaints without prejudice to the fact that the examination of them within the framework of the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC continues its course independently. our position and that of other countries.

The head of the Palacio San Martín assured that “in a complex world besieged by the pandemic”, the foreign policy which promotes the government of Alberto Fernández “bets on multilateralism and maintains mature relations with the whole world”. As an example, said the Chancellor, in a little over a week the Spanish President will visit our country and eight days later the German Foreign Minister, Heiko Mass.

These changes of course, however, have drawn criticism from the opposition and academia.

“There is no coherent vision within the Government in matters of foreign policy”, Explain Brand Federico, Professor of international relations at the University of San Andrés. According to the doctor of social sciences, the underlying problem is that foreign policy “is not concentrated in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”, but rather has an electric terminal at the Patria Institute, home of the vice-president. Cristina Kirchner. “It is natural to expect this kind of inconsistency,” he added.

A clear example of this dichotomy is marked, according to the specialist, in the distribution of key embassies. While Russia and China, with Eduardo Zuain Yes Camilo Vaca Narvaja, respectively, report to the former president, the diplomatic seat in the United States, with Jorge Arguello; Brazil, with Daniel Scioli, and Uruguay, with Alberto Iribarne, They do it at Casa Rosada.

These differences expose the government. Although not on all issues, according to Merke’s gaze. On the question of Israel, Argentina’s position is correct. “Israel is doing things wrong. It looks like South African apartheid, it is dangerous and illegal. Today, the cost of hitting Israel is low, ”summed up the scholar, studying what is happening in that country.

In this scenario, according to the newspaper The Guardian Five days ago, more than 500 Democratic Party members asked the president Joe biden “Do more to protect the Palestinians” do more to protect the Palestinians “and hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza.

Opposing criticisms

For the opposition, there are no nuances. The turning point is “Copernican”, they said of Together for Change. Decisions, according to the opposition, are not taken at the Foreign Ministry, but are defined by Cristina Kirchner.

Part of this clearly stated Mauricio macri two days ago. “Argentina has aligned itself with the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro,” he wrote on social networks. The former president spoke out against the decision to withdraw his support for the lawsuit brought before the International Criminal Court to investigate human rights violations in Venezuela.

“Alberto Fernández’s decision to prioritize a political alliance with a dictator over the lives and human rights of millions of Venezuelans is scandalous,” Macri concluded.

In this line, the ex-chancellor Jorge Faurie, in dialogue with THE NATION, he disapproved of the management of his successor. “Foreign policy must reflect the interests of Argentines: work, safety and vaccines. It’s not there, ”said the former foreign minister.

From Together for Change, they regretted Argentina’s alignment with what they defined as “foreign countries,” in which Venezuela and Bolivia are listed. “The alignment meets the needs of someone other than the president,” they said with reference to the vice president.

While almost 18 months have passed since the electoral triumph, the heterogeneity of thoughts in the Frente de Todos, which allowed Alberto Fernández and Cristina Kirchner to regain power in 2019, has once again marked distances that seem insurmountable in government.

Conocé The Trust Project