Argentina's Javier Milei back in Spain for possible new Pedro Sánchez showdown

Argentina's President Javier Milei is set to return to Madrid for an international summit aimed at strengthening ties among Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries. The two-day Ibero-American Summit, hosted by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, comes at a time when Sánchez is facing challenges and predicted to lose the upcoming general election.

Alongside Milei, Chilean President José Antonio Kast and Bolivia's Rodrigo Paz are among the notable conservative attendees. The summit aims to relaunch the Ibero-American format, which has seen a decline in recent years, by focusing on cooperation in areas such as disasters and civil protection, as well as artificial intelligence.

This year's summit is particularly significant due to the shift towards the right in Latin America following electoral victories for Trump allies. The absence of leftist allies such as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva adds to the awkwardness for Sánchez. Milei has previously called Sánchez a "disgraceful dictator" and urged Spaniards to "kick out" the Socialists in the upcoming election.