National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan visits Argentina
U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan visited Argentina on Friday, meeting with President Alberto Fernández and numerous Argentine officials, as well as participating in a meeting of the country's Social and Economic Council - a top presidential domestic policy body.
"Jake Sullivan and President Alberto Fernández talked about the importance of Argentina-U.S. cooperation to support democracy in the region, boost economic growth and combat transnational challenges such as the pandemic and climate change," U.S. Embassy officials in Argentina tweeted.
Sullivan, 44, arrived in Buenos Aires on Thursday evening after meeting Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, and was greeted by U.S. Chargée d'Affaires MaryKay Carlson.
Following lunch with Fernández at the Olivos presidential residence, Sullivan met at the Casa Rosada with cabinet ministers, where issues including the economy, trade, technology and electric vehicles, defense cooperation, the environment, and innovation were discussed.
He later met a number of Argentine legislators at the Bosch Palace - the ambassador's residence - and attended a Social and Economic Council meeting at the Foreign Ministry's ceremonial headquarters, the San Martín Palace, where among the topics discussed was the need to promote a new global tax and financial architecture.
Argentina was an early proponent of a 15% global minimum corporate tax - which G-20 finance ministers formally agreed to seek in their respective countries during their Venice summit last month.
Ambassador nominated
The White House today announced that President Biden had nominated Dallas attorney and Democratic fundraiser Marc Stanley to become Ambassador to Argentina.
Stanley, 64, is a leader in Dallas' Jewish community - a distinction coinciding with Argentina's having Latin America's largest Jewish population.
Stanley's nomination - like all Biden ambassadorial picks - faces opposition from Senator Ted Cruz however. "Senator Cruz has a hold on all state department [nominees]," a spokesperson for Senator Chuck Schumer noted today.
The post was left vacant by Trump appointee Ed Prado's sudden resignation on January 14. Documents published today show that Prado met then-President Mauricio Macri on November 8, 2019 - just two days before the coup that deposed Bolivian President Evo Morales.
Macri is under investigation for the illegal shipment of a Hercules plane-full of tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition to Bolivia just after the coup - when the quashing of protests resulted in 37 dead.
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U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Argentine President Alberto Fernández exchange football jerseys during Sullivan's visit to Argentina on Friday.
Fernández presented Sullivan with a letter thanking President Joe Biden for the recent donation of 3.5 million Moderna Covid-19 vaccines doses, which are now allowing Argentina to begin vaccinating its 4.2 million children aged 12 to 17.
"They have given relief and protection to many families," Fernández tweeted.
"I'm happy we agree on a global agenda of social justice and human development."
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The fascists Trump and Macri set their countries back so far it will take ages to repair them.
It does sound as if things are going very well, hoping for the very best.
Stunning information about Trump's next ambassador, Ed Prado, and his unexpected resignation. It can only make a person even more thankful that this scheme didn't pan out for Trump. Too bad Trump can't be exiled.
He got off to such a great start, too!
It was time for a Democratic President again, wasn't it?
He sat down with Macri at the Olivos presidential residence - rather than the Casa Rosada office building (which would've tipped off the media) - two days before Morales was deposed.
And three days before the shipment of rubber bullets, tear gas and live ammo was approved.
He was almost certainly there to greenlight the shipment, if not request it outright. That would be a prima facie international law violation.
The day after the shipment, the notoriously lazy Macri had a busy day of meetings with among others former U.S. Ambassador Noah Mamet (a possible emissary for private-sector interests who wanted Morales out), as well as many of the Argentine officials now implicated: among others, Faurie (Foreign Relations); Aguad (Defense); Bullrich (Security); Burzaco (Bullrich's deputy); and Otero (Gendarmerie, which ran the operation).
It was the only time in all of 2019 that Macri met with Gerardo Otero.
This much is certain: whereas Trump and any involved U.S. officials have nothing to worry about, the same cannot be said for Macri.
Any international arrest warrant for him issued by Bolivia would be honored - unless Macri can find a rogue state willing to ignore it.
So, besides his accounts, is that why he's been in Switzerland for the past two months?
Thanks as always for your observations and visuals, Judi. Have a great and restful weekend. 
