Javier Milei And The Destructive Art Of Anti-Diplomacy

-OpEd-

BUENOS AIRES — Diplomacy, essentially, seeks to use words instead of arms in international relations, while safeguarding state and national interests.

Diplomatic practice, which involves institutional dexterity and mutual respect, is fundamental to a country’s well-being, which is why its requisites include education, knowledge, prudence, tact and moderation. In 1957, Martin Wight, an English student of diplomacy, came up with the contrary concept of anti-diplomacy, sourced in redemptive or absolutist visions of the world that fuel dystopian opposites. It’s all or nothing in this case; your opposite is evil, leaving little room for dialogue.

If diplomacy has systemic value, anti-diplomacy is anti-systemic. While diplomacy is concerned with the interaction of recognized states or multilateral mechanisms, anti-diplomacy would strengthen non-governmental or transnational ties.

Argentina’s libertarian president, Javier Milei, has shown he prefers the latter version of communication. His positions so far — some might say antics — do not seem to have strengthened Argentina’s ties with the institutional world outside.

Reactionary Internationalism

Milei travels abroad, but for party political events and informal conferences or to meet personalities (almost always men) from politics or the business world. He has rarely met with leaders, and it is not clear if those meetings yielded anything of value for Argentina, for example in commercial terms. He shows little interest in multilateral summits such as the CELAC (the Latin American community, which he skipped) or G7 (where he was unnoticed). But he is keen on less formal events like Davos, where he gave sermons on the economy. Few understand him, but he is applauded anyway.

Instead of working on inter-state ties, Milei has sought to strengthen a grand alliance of politicians with similar ideas, whether in office, out of office, or competing electorally with the party in government. He is an active member of a buoyant current one might term “Reactionary Internationalism.”

Milei acts as an engine of global regression.

This political current includes politicians of different backgrounds, who share a vision of a glorious past in their respective countries — that is to be recovered by curbing social rights, which they consider immoral — and a common hatred of communist China and progressive ideas.

Milei believes he has a catalyzing role in this movement, and acts as an engine of global regression. His ideas feed his disdain for multilateral commitments including the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the WHO’s proposed pandemic treaty, or gender rights within the framework of the Organization of American States (OAS).

The symbol of a new epoch

Voicing his opinion as a heckler would, Milei has implemented two anti-diplomatic practices that Argentina’s foreign ministry has not been able to stop. First, he has attacked particular leaders — calling the Spanish prime minister’s wife “crooked” and Brazil’s president “communist” — and countries.

Second, he has expressed an unconditional affinity with just two countries: Israel and the United States. Needless to say, neither asked to be loved quite so much. This has led Milei to neglect the task of reinforcing ties with a host of other countries or strengthening Argentina’s existing positions and commitments. Yet, none of it is haphazard or without logic.

Milei is addressing a particular constituency both inside and outside the country, with its own clear and material goals. That includes the dollarization of the economy financed from outside.

While diplomacy defends national interests, anti-diplomacy serves the interests of one person — at best, of a minority. With near-religious fervor, Milei is letting dogmas shape policy, and an unbridled need to project himself govern his conduct. He has certainly enhanced his profile in the West, though without tangible benefits for the Argentine economy. His advisers and collaborators seem to have confused his growing visibility with increased credibility for Argentina.

Argentina has become a textbook case — or a basket case — of anti-diplomacy in the hands of a president who believes he is the symbol of a new epoch.