MOSCOW, November 20. /TASS/. Russia respects the results of the presidential election in Argentina and hopes that friendship between the two countries will grow stronger, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a news release.

"We respect the sovereign choice of the Argentinian people and the priorities outlined by the legally elected president [Javier Milei] for the activities of his administration. We hope for the strengthening of friendship, trust and cooperation between Russia and Argentina in the spirit of the strategic partnership that links our states," the Foreign Ministry pointed out. "We are ready to continue our efforts to develop relations in all areas and to cooperate on multilateral platforms in the interests of building a fair world order."

Election returns

On November 19, Argentina saw a presidential election runoff. Milei, who leads the Libertarian Party, affiliated with the right-wing Freedom Advances alliance, outperformed Economy Minister Sergio Massa.

An economist by training, Milei favors minimal government intervention in the country’s affairs. He vows to abolish the Central Bank and suggests replacing the national currency with the dollar. His election symbol - the chainsaw - is an unequivocal hint at his plans to make serious budget cuts to solve economic problems. During the election campaign, the politician emphasized his opposition to the country's political establishment, which he refers to as "caste."

Milei has repeatedly stated that he does not intend to develop interstate relations with Brazil, China and Russia because of his disagreement with the policies of these states. At the same time, he stated that he would not prevent private companies from doing business with these states. He considers Israel and the US as Argentina's priority allies. Milei's foreign policy adviser Diana Mondino said in late October that the Freedom Advances alliance saw no point in Argentina's participation in BRICS, where the country was admitted following the group's August summit.