Argentina's Milei set for IMF meet at G7 after greeting Biden

Argentina's President Javier Milei is welcomed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the second day of the G7 summit, at the Borgo Egnazia resort, in Savelletri, Italy June 14, 2024. /Guglielmo Mangiapane

BUENOS AIRES - Argentina's right-wing President Javier Milei will meet on Friday with the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the sidelines of the G7 summit, the most important international forum he has attended since he took office in December.

Milei will meet IMF head Kristalina Georgieva a day after the fund approved the eighth review of Argentina's $44 billion extended fund facility agreement, clearing the way for the country to draw $800 million to help drive its economic recovery.

Milei, a pro-market economist and former TV pundit, is battling to turn around a major economic crisis which he inherited when he took office in December.

Milei also briefly met U.S. President Joe Biden for the first time since taking office and embraced his fellow countryman Pope Francis, with whom he has previously clashed.

Milei is also scheduled to meet French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is hosting the summit, as well as World Bank President Ajay Banga.

Although not scheduled on his official agenda, Milei could possibly meet with Brazil's leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, an important trading partner whom the Argentine head of state has repeatedly criticized.

Source: Reuters