During his third official visit since taking office, Argentine President Javier Milei arrived in the occupied Palestinian territories. The visit reinforced his openly pro-Israel stance and highlighted a broader recalibration of Argentina’s foreign policy. It also introduced new proposals, most notably the “Isaac Accords,” which aim to extend Middle East-style normalization frameworks into Latin America, a move that has triggered debate among experts over its strategic relevance and potential risks for Argentina.

Milei began his visit at the Western Wall, where he performed Jewish prayers and signed the visitors’ book with religious and moral language. The scene projected a strong symbolic and spiritual dimension to his relationship with Israel, reinforced by visible emotional gestures during the visit. He later met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in occupied Jerusalem, where both leaders displayed clear political and personal alignment. Netanyahu praised Milei as “a great friend of Israel,” while the Argentine president described the relationship between the two countries as a “moral, spiritual, and political unity.”

Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, is still in Israel, hugging the Western Wall. pic.twitter.com/T3VRQKb3Xu — Clash Report (@clashreport) April 22, 2026

Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, is still in Israel, hugging the Western Wall. pic.twitter.com/T3VRQKb3Xu

— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 22, 2026

Milei confirmed the launch of the first direct flight between Buenos Aires and Tel Aviv, to be operated by El Al starting in November. He also announced a memorandum of understanding on artificial intelligence, presenting Israel as a leading technological power and Argentina as a country with the human capital and regulatory conditions to become a major hub in the field. 

Referring to the Abraham Accords, he introduced what he called the “Isaac Accords,” an initiative he said would extend this model to Latin America by strengthening diplomatic, commercial, cultural, and strategic ties with Israel. He also sharpened his ideological rhetoric, attacking leftist governments in Latin America and reaffirming support for the United States and Israel in what he described as the fight against “terrorism” and the Iranian regime. 

Argentina’s President Javier Milei Dances and sings with Benjamin Netanyahu in attendance for Israel’s Israel’s Independence Day ceremony. pic.twitter.com/qjlPbGB7sp — Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) April 21, 2026

Argentina’s President Javier Milei Dances and sings with Benjamin Netanyahu in attendance for Israel’s Israel’s Independence Day ceremony. pic.twitter.com/qjlPbGB7sp

— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) April 21, 2026

Julia Argentina Perié, President of the International Relations Observatory of the VICTORIA Foundation, sees the visit as part of a larger and more troubling transformation. “Milei’s visit to Israel cannot be read as an isolated event, but rather as part of a deep and worrying shift in Argentine foreign policy,” she told MEMO. In her view, Argentina had historically maintained a position based on balance, respect for international law, and the promotion of dialogue, whereas this visit represented an explicit alignment in a conflict scenario that breaks with that tradition.

Perié also questioned the logic behind the so-called Isaac Accords.

“The announcement alongside Benjamin Netanyahu of the so-called ‘Isaac Accords,’ inspired by the Abraham Accords, appears more like a political construct than a response to real needs in Latin America,”.

“The announcement alongside Benjamin Netanyahu of the so-called ‘Isaac Accords,’ inspired by the Abraham Accords, appears more like a political construct than a response to real needs in Latin America,”.

She argued that the region does not need normalization processes with Israel, but rather “an autonomous foreign policy focused on development, not the importation of geopolitical agendas unrelated to our interests.”

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She rejected the attempt to apply Middle East normalization logic to Latin America. “Trying to transfer that logic to Latin America forces an analogy that does not hold,” Perié said. “There are no structural conflicts with Israel here.” In her assessment, what is actually visible is an effort to project influence in the region through Argentina, a move that she warned could compromise the country’s strategic autonomy.

Argentinian President Javier Milei is in Israel hugging War Criminal Benjamin Netanyahu while his country crumbles. A greater traitor to Argentina there has never been. pic.twitter.com/KfdY2Cve3T — BladeoftheSun (@BladeoftheS) April 19, 2026

Argentinian President Javier Milei is in Israel hugging War Criminal Benjamin Netanyahu while his country crumbles.

A greater traitor to Argentina there has never been. pic.twitter.com/KfdY2Cve3T

— BladeoftheSun (@BladeoftheS) April 19, 2026

For Perié, ideology is at the center of Milei’s approach. “The ideological component is evident,” she said. “Javier Milei has expressed a very marked personal affinity with Israel, and that is now being translated into foreign policy decisions.” She warned, however, that foreign policy cannot be built around personal convictions. “The problem is when those personal beliefs are placed above a comprehensive national strategy. Foreign policy cannot depend on individual affinities, but on the country’s permanent interests.”

She also cast doubt on Argentina’s ability to lead any initiative of this kind in the region. “Argentina today is not in a position to lead an initiative like this in Latin America,” Perié said. “Leadership requires stability, internal consensus, and international credibility.” In her view, when foreign policy is perceived as erratic or excessively aligned, it loses the ability to generate support across the region.

The risks, she argued, are concrete and immediate. “Argentina maintains historical, commercial, and cultural ties with countries in the Arab world,” she said. “Such a marked alignment can damage strategic relationships, affect exports, and reduce room for international maneuver.” She added that breaking long-standing foreign policy balances always carries costs, and those costs are often difficult to reverse.

🇦🇷🇮🇱 Argentina’s President, Milei arrives in Tel Aviv First foreign head of state to visit since the 10-day ceasefire with Lebanon Will transfer of the Argentine Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem & visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City pic.twitter.com/QX62UpiWjx — Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) April 19, 2026

🇦🇷🇮🇱 Argentina’s President, Milei arrives in Tel Aviv

First foreign head of state to visit since the 10-day ceasefire with Lebanon

Will transfer of the Argentine Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem & visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City pic.twitter.com/QX62UpiWjx

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) April 19, 2026

Perié was equally critical of Milei’s renewed commitment to move Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem. “The announcement of relocating the embassy to Jerusalem is a decision of extremely high impact,” she said. She noted that Jerusalem remains one of the most sensitive issues in international politics and that the majority of the international community has avoided unilateral decisions on the matter. “Advancing in that direction means abandoning a historical posture of prudence and aligning with an agenda that does not necessarily respond to Argentine interests.”

Inside Argentina, Milei’s visit has already fueled criticism from opposition forces, who argue that this positioning deepens the country’s alignment with the Washington–Tel Aviv axis at a highly volatile regional moment. Critics warn that such a course could harm Argentina’s interests, weaken its diplomatic flexibility, and expose it to unnecessary risks without generating clear returns.

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The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.

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