The Financial Times defined Alberto Fernández as an “unexpected leader” for Latin America

Amid the poor economic situation in Argentina, President Alberto Fernández wants a greater regional role. However, in an article published on Monday, the newspaper Financial Times He described him as an “unexpected leader” for Latin America despite the Argentine president’s attempts to build bridges “left and right” with the various presidents.

In the note, signed by the journalist Michael stott, FT editor-in-chief for Latin America, The Argentinian president’s visits to the “conservative” presidents of Chile and Uruguay are detailed, at the same time as he celebrated the recent electoral victories of the “socialists” in Bolivia and Ecuador. Also the current visit to Mexico as a “guest speaker” in the commemorations of the 200th anniversary of the proclamation of independence. Fernández is the only Latin American leader invited by the country’s President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Latin America today lacks the usual heavyweights to lead regional efforts

Although, in the note, this explosion of diplomacy is considered “very timely” in the context of the change of administration in the United States – after the arrival of Joe biden for the presidency – and a new agenda for Latin America, which leaves behind the pressure of the Trump era on immigration and regime change in Cuba and Venezuela.

However, they warn that Fernández needs partners. “When you look at the region, there is a lack of leadership,” he said. Tom long, Associate Professor of Emerging New World Powers at the University of Warwick. The specialist estimated that today Latin America does not have the usual heavyweights to lead regional efforts.

According to diplomats and analysts quoted by the financial newspaper, this is the space that the Argentine president aspires to occupy. “It is no coincidence that Fernandez was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Joe Biden on his election and was the first to have a substantive conversation with the new president of the United States,” the article adds. . He also didn’t get the attention that in part of the conversation he referred to the figure of Pope Francis.

In contrast, it was noted that Brazil’s right-wing leader Jair Bolsonaro and Mexican López Obrador were on good terms with Donald Trump at the end of his term and were among the last world leaders to recognize Biden’s victory. Bolsonaro and the US president have yet to communicate.

There is a place for a pragmatic and strategic leader in Latin America, but the challenge Alberto Fernández will have is the Argentines. It may have these international ambitions, but Argentina is an increasingly island country

The note warns that Fernández faces great obstacles to being able to play a greater regional role: “Latin America lacks effective forums for regional coordination. It is littered with the vestiges of failed regional integration efforts, ”they said.

Michael shifter, chairman of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington think tank, believes Buenos Aires could play a key role in helping the United States negotiate a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Venezuela. But he warns that the economic crisis the country is going through is diminishing and limiting its effectiveness as a partner.

Shannon O’Neil, vice chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, believes domestic politics can be a problem. “There is space for a pragmatic and strategic leader in Latin America, but the challenge that Alberto Fernández will have is the Argentines. It may have these international ambitions, but Argentina is an increasingly island country“.

In the note, the vice president was also highlighted Cristina Kirchner as “problematic”, since they consider that he occupies the real power “behind the throne”. As he says Moisés Naím, Distinguished Member of the Carnegie Endowment: “Alberto doesn’t come alone. He has luggage ”.

How does the Financial Times describe Argentina’s economy? In listing his problems, he is pointed out that he continues to try to renegotiate the $ 44 billion in debt with the IMF, the depleting dollar reserves and the issuance of currency that triggered inflation. In short, they were talking about an economy “in terrible shape”.

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