Milei Seeks European Investment in Paris Visit as Argentina's Recovery Falters

Argentine President Javier Milei is in Paris from Wednesday for an economic forum, seeking new investors for Argentina as the country's economic recovery shows signs of fragility, according to France 24.

The visit comes as growth in Argentina remains uneven and poverty levels have begun rising again, despite the sweeping economic reforms Milei has pursued since taking office.

Jean-Jacques Kourliandsky, a researcher cited by France 24, said the Argentine president's visit is aimed primarily at "pushing on doors that remain open to him in Europe," suggesting Milei is looking to capitalize on existing diplomatic and economic relationships as he searches for fresh sources of investment.

Milei, who describes himself as a libertarian and has pursued an aggressive program of deregulation and austerity since taking office, has repeatedly sought to attract foreign capital as part of his broader plan to stabilize Argentina's economy after years of high inflation and recurring debt crises.

The France 24 report did not detail the specific companies or sectors Milei hopes to attract investment from during the Paris forum, nor did it specify whether he plans to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron or other senior officials during the visit.

Argentina's economy has faced persistent structural challenges, including a history of currency volatility and sovereign debt difficulties, that have made attracting stable, long-term foreign investment a recurring challenge for successive governments regardless of political orientation.

Milei's government has argued that its reform agenda, including sharp cuts to public spending, is necessary to restore investor confidence, even as critics point to the social costs of austerity measures amid the renewed rise in poverty.