MOSCOW, November 20. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Javier Milei on winning Argentina’s presidential election and expressed hope that the two countries would build constructive dialogue.

"Dear Mr. Milei, please accept my congratulations on the occasion of your election as president," Putin said in a telegram, a copy of which was posted on the Kremlin’s website.

"Russian-Argentine relations are based on good traditions of friendship and mutual respect. We hope for continued development of strategic partnership with Buenos Aires in a wide variety of areas, as well as constructive dialogue on pressing international issues," Putin said in the telegram.

The Russian leader wished the Argentine president-elect "success in his important endeavors as the head of state," along with health and prosperity.

High-level talks

Putin last visited Argentina in December 2018 when he attended the Group of 20 summit and held talks with the country’s then-President, Mauricio Macri.

Putin met with the current Argentine president when Alberto Fernandez visited Moscow on February 3, 2022. Putin called him on December 18, 2022 with congratulations on the victory of the country’s national team at the football World Cup. This year, both presidents participated in the Belt and Road Initiative conference in Beijing on October 18.

Election outcome

Argentina held its second round of presidential elections on November 19. Milei leads the Libertarian Party, which is part of the right-wing Liberty Advances coalition. He defeated Economy Minister Sergio Massa.

An economist by trade, Milei is a proponent of small government. He pledged to abolish the central bank and proposed to establish the dollar as the national currency. With a chainsaw as the symbol of his campaign, he plans to make drastic cuts in budget expenditures to solve economic woes. As he campaigned, the politician protested against the country's political establishment, which he called a "caste."

Milei has repeatedly stated that he does not plan to develop government-to-government relations with Brazil, China or Russia due to his disagreement with the nations’ policies, but said he will not prevent private companies from doing business with these countries. He regards Israel and the US as Argentina's primary allies. Milei's foreign policy adviser Diana Mondino said in late October that the Liberty Advances coalition believes it makes no sense for Argentina to join BRICS, even though the country was granted membership following the group's summit in August.