During his long stay in Buenos Aires, the leader of Central America's smallest country and his host promoted the signing of several agreements by foreign ministers

By Roberto Morejón

During Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele's recent visit to Buenos Aires, observers noted a growing rapprochement with his Argentinean counterpart, the ultra-rightist Prime Minister Javier Milei.

The international press speaks of a supposed new alliance in Latin America, as opposed to the leftist or progressive line taken by some governments in the region.

During his long stay in Buenos Aires, the leader of Central America's smallest country and his host promoted the signing of several agreements by foreign ministers, including the creation of an airport hub in El Salvador, which will also receive advice on nuclear energy.

According to the authors, Milei received Bukele in the midst of his efforts to halt the decline in his public acceptance, given his disastrous policy of shrinking the state, which has had an impact on the level of poverty and unrest among citizens.

Argentina is now interested in learning about Salvadoran security procedures, as Bukele boasts of reducing gang activity, although his critics say he goes too far in his raids and arrests.

However, analysts warn that it will be very difficult to govern in Argentina under a state of emergency, as Bukele does, because of the impact on human rights, which are already undermined when the forces of law-and-order use tear gas against protest demonstrations.

Milei and Bukele, who have met in person on two occasions, agree on their conservative positions and their tense relations with the press, although they have differences on economic issues, with the Central American preferring not to completely dismantle the state, as the Argentinean does. In any case, the two presidents do not deny that they are described as close friends, that the right wing of the region praises them as referents and that they are close to personalities such as Elon Musk, a technology magnate known for his outbursts of rancid conservatism.

Characterized by their strong discourse against traditional political systems and certain global organizations, Miley and Bukele exude mutual cordiality, although they could rival each other on one point: both like to be called the most popular politicians of today.