Argentina’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, Ms Diana Mondino, concluded her five-day official visit to India. During her visit to India from 5-9 October 2024, she met External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri and Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.
Diana Mondina's visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
India and Argentina enjoy close relationships, which were elevated to the level of a Strategic Partnership during Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri's state visit to India in February 2019.
The 7th India-Argentina Joint Commission meeting, co-chaired by Dr S Jaishankar and Ms Diana Mondino, was held in New Delhi.
Both leaders reviewed the bilateral relations and discussed increasing cooperation in defence, energy, space, nuclear, railways, infrastructure, healthcare, information technology, pharmaceuticals, education, agriculture, and mining.
Ms Diana Mondino was accompanied by a 17-member business delegation to explore new business opportunities in India. She and Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Electronics & Information Technology, Jitendra Prasada. Co-chaired an interactive session orgainsed by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) organised interactive session in New Delhi.
Ms Diana Mondino also attended an interactive session organised by the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi on 8 October.
Speaking at the session, she said that Argentina is not interested in becoming a member of BRICS as it does not want to be part of any political agenda.
In August 2023, during the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Argentina joined Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, Ethiopia, and Egypt as the new members of the BRICS.
However, after the election of Javier Milei as the President, Argentina refused to join BRICS.
1st BRICS Ministerial meeting held with expanded membership in Russia
Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world in terms of area after Russia, Canada, China, the United States of America, Brazil, Australia, and India.
It is situated in South America and was once a colony of Spain.
Capital: Buenos Aires
Currency: Peso
President: Javier Milei