President Javier Milei Granted Permission to Travel Abroad Amidst Trump’s Inauguration and Davos Forum
In a move signed into law by President Javier Milei himself, along with his ministers, the Argentine government has authorized the president to temporarily leave the country "as required by matters of governance" until the corresponding 2025 law is approved by Congress (Decree 17/2025). This decree comes just 11 days before the inauguration of Donald Trump in the United States and the upcoming World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The decree states that the president is authorized to "absent himself from the national territory when matters of governance require it, until such time as the corresponding 2025 law is approved." The government justified this measure, stating that as head of state, Milei’s international presence is crucial for Argentina’s global standing. Moreover, it emphasized the necessity to adopt constitutional measures that allow the president to fulfill his duties until the relevant law is sanctioned.
Milei’s travel plan, supervised by his sister and secretary-general, includes a visit to Trump’s inauguration on January 17 and participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos from January 20 to 24. The president was personally invited by Trump, with whom he shares a close and politically sympathetic bond. Milei plans to travel in the Arg-01, the newly acquired presidential aircraft that, according to experts, had high maintenance costs and spent more time in repairs than in service.
During his visit, Milei will join first ministro Italian Giorgia Meloni and El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who share similar political views and philosophical affinities. Accompanying him will be his sister and Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein, the same individuals who were present at Trump’s event at Mar-a-Lago following his election victory.
’ailleurs, Milei will work on advancing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States, a primary objective of his administration for 2025. This endeavor faces opposition from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who insists on preserving the current structure of the Mercosur, preventing Argentina from negotiating with the U.S.
The World Economic Forum in Davos, themed "Cooperation in the Age of Intelligence," will gather business leaders, policymakers, and academics worldwide. However, as it coincides with Trump’s inauguration, Milei’s government, led by Karina Milei, must carefully plan the trip, prioritizing engagements. Officials report that the main challenge is coordinating the schedule to allow Milei to present "macroeconomic achievements" from his first year in office at the forum.