The Spanish king, Felipe VI, arrived in Argentina on a bright Saturday to attend the inauguration events for the country’s new president, Javier Milei, and to meet the president-elect during the day. The visit marks a significant moment in bilateral ties as Madrid signals its interest in deepening collaboration with Buenos Aires amid a changing Latin American political landscape.
The international entourage accompanying the monarch included Juan Fernández-Trigo, the minister of foreign affairs for Latin America and the Caribbean. They touched down at Ezeiza International Airport in the Buenos Aires province around 9:30 am local time (12:30 GMT) at the terminal reserved for special flights. Earlier, the flight landed at 8:50 am (11:50 GMT), and a roughly 40-minute delay in the king’s departure was noted by the press, with pilots proudly displaying both the Argentine and Spanish flags in the cockpit before landing.
Felipe VI was received on the tarmac by the Spanish ambassador to Argentina, Maria Jesus Alonso. According to information from the King’s Council, his schedule in Buenos Aires included a meeting with the president-elect at the San Martín Palace, the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship. He would then meet the outgoing president, Alberto Fernández, at Casa Rosada, the seat of the Argentine government.
The king travels with Fernández-Trigo, as Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares was scheduled to meet his European counterparts in Brussels on Monday, preventing him from accompanying the delegation to Buenos Aires. This visit underscores Spain’s role as a partner in Latin America as Milei assumes office and promises to address the new political alignment in the region.
Felipe VI is set to inaugurate the Milei era by addressing the audience during the opening ceremony at Congress steps, where he will join other Latin American leaders in recognizing the transfer of power. The king is expected to share discussions with several presidents, including Chile’s Gabriel Boric, Uruguay’s Luis Lacalle Pou, Paraguay’s Santiago Peña, and Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa, highlighting the cross-border nature of contemporary diplomatic engagement in the region.
In Buenos Aires, the event has drawn attention from far more than just formal politics. Notable observers have noted the presence of political figures connected to various ideological currents in the region. Among them is the president of Vox in Argentina, Santiago Abascal, who along with Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo, a deputy speaker in the country’s congress, offered public congratulations to Milei for what was described as a decisive victory in the recent election. Both figures are known for their close ties to certain liberal and libertarian movements in Latin America.
The Milei victory came after a second-round contest against Economy Minister Sergio Massa, who had been endorsed by the Spanish government under President Pedro Sánchez. In the days leading up to the vote, Sánchez publicly expressed caution about the shift in Argentina’s political landscape, framing the democratic process around coexistence and harmony as a counterpoint to the campaign promises and agenda advanced by Milei’s team.
Felipe VI’s involvement marks Spain’s first formal state-level engagement in a presidential transition in Argentina since the country’s current constitutional framework began to mature. Since ascending to the throne in 2014, the king has participated in numerous international exchanges with Latin American partners, continuing a tradition of high-level visits that began when he held roles as Prince in earlier years. Argentina has historically hosted a substantial Spanish-born diaspora, with hundreds of thousands of residents of Spanish origin, and Felipe VI’s prior leadership visits have reinforced a sense of shared heritage and ongoing cooperation.
This year’s itinerary includes similar occasions across Latin America, with Felipe VI attending inaugural ceremonies featuring presidents in Brazil and Paraguay after the Argentine event. The broad pattern of these engagements reflects Spain’s ongoing interest in regional stability, economic collaboration, and cultural exchanges that connect Spanish-speaking nations across the Atlantic. The leaders’ discussions are expected to cover trade, investment, security, and political cooperation, as well as cultural and educational ties that bind the two countries and their communities abroad.
Overall, the king’s Argentine appearance is seen as a symbolic reaffirmation of Spain’s friendship with Argentina and its interest in contributing to a stable, prosperous future for the region. Observers note that this visit signals a moment of continuity in international diplomacy, even as new administrations in Latin American capitals recalibrate their relations with European partners. The events highlight a shared history and a mutual interest in advancing democratic governance, economic development, and people-to-people connections that span generations. [Source: EFE and official briefings]