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The administration of Donald Trump has once again brought a resounding support to the government of Mauricio Macri, both politically and economically, and at this time made it particularly uncertain, accentuated by the proximity of the elections.
The Assistant Secretary of the Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Kimberly Breier, went to Buenos Aires this weekend to express her personally to the Argentine President.
"I am here because the bilateral relationship is very important, we are strategic partners, it is a country in the throes of change that faces real challenges, such as the recession in Brazil and the turmoil on the international markets." said the US envoy to the media at a press conference held this afternoon.
Kimberly Breier at a press conference with Argentine journalists.
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Breier praised, seeking to clarify that Macri's support for the administration was part of Trump's policy. "It's a pleasure to see how Argentina has changed over these four years," he said with mild political intent.
"I see a country modernizing, connected to the world, which is very important, a respected country in the world, Argentina has chosen a path of real solutions, solutions that will take years, but that will give stability in the country, "he said.
The diplomat has already met Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie, with whom he spoke about the Venezuelan conflict. "I thanked him for Argentina's leadership in the Lima group – a regional bloc lobbying to change Nicolás Maduro's regime – and his support for Venezuelan migrants."
Kimberly Breier met with some of the national cabinet and then went to President Mauricio Macri in Olivos.
He was also with the chief of staff, Marcos Peña, and several other ministers. With the Secretary of Energy, Gustavo Lopetegui, have signed agreements to finance infrastructure works in the energy sector.
She also brought the finishing touches to a 45 million dollar loan from the US investment agency OPIC (Private Investment Company Abroad) in favor of the local company Plaza Logística. "This is the agency's first investment – an agency of the US government – in Argentina for 15 years," said the diplomat to demonstrate the special support offered by the world's leading power.
Of course, the possible return of Cristina Kirchner to power and the possibility that this changes the link with Washington are not absent from the discussion. The answer was strictly diplomatic.
Do you fear that Cristina de Kirchner will return to the presidency?
"The United States has a very important relationship with Argentina, it is a relationship with the Argentine state and we are committed to working with anyone who wins the elections. Obviously, we support a path, an institutional path of respect for human rights, democracy and the free market.For us, such a path is good for the region.And the region that I think is on this road for internal reasons in each country, very pragmatic governments are trying to find solutions, we support this path and all the values we share. "
If the economic situation worsens, can the United States support a greater flow of money via the IMF?
You know very well that we have supported Argentina very seriously in the last few years and that the IMF program is a real, real and far-reaching program and that it supports very strongly the way borrowed by the country.
Can there be a bailout of Argentine bonds by the US Treasury?
I could not say at that moment. I would just say that the support is very strong, that it is a real commitment of the government and the difficult decisions it makes economically. We will continue to support the Argentine government.
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