Javier Milei and Donald Trump are set to meet today at the United Nations (UN) to finalize a loan from the U.S. Treasury Department to Argentina’s Central Bank. The financing would cover debt maturities coming due over the next 15 months and reinforce public reserves that continue to dwindle.

The economic backing underscores both the ideological and personal ties between the two leaders and reaffirms the strategic alliance between Argentina and the United States, united in their goal of blocking China’s advance in Latin America.

Trump will deliver his speech before the UN General Assembly and then meet with Milei.

The Argentine president, in turn, plans to attend Trump’s address alongside Karina Milei, Secretary General of the Presidency and the president’s sister; Economy Minister Luis Caputo; and Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein. They will all accompany him to the meeting with the former real estate magnate.

Trump will be joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the key architect of the bilateral agreement expected to be announced today in New York.

A first sign of relief for the Argentine government came Monday when Treasury chief Scott Bessent declared that “Argentina is a systemically important ally in Latin America” and that Washington “is willing to do whatever it takes” to support the libertarian president.

Milei quickly responded, expressing “enormous gratitude” to both the Treasury Secretary and President Trump “for their unwavering support for the Argentine people, who two years ago firmly committed to turning the page on a century of decline.”

“Those of us who defend the ideas of freedom must work together for the well-being of our peoples. See you Tuesday in New York,” Milei added on social media platform X.

Bessent has already signaled that U.S. support will be “strong and decisive.”

The U.S. president views Milei as his strategic ally in the region, amid an ideological split in Latin America that China is seeking to exploit by expanding its influence in communications, technology, finance, and natural resources.

The loan would allow Buenos Aires to distance itself from Beijing, which has wielded an effective soft power strategy through the currency swap agreement currently reflected in the Central Bank’s balance sheet.

In his meetings with U.S. secretaries and senior officials, Milei has repeatedly been warned about the Communist Party of China’s growing role in national and provincial public tenders.

Chinese President Xi Jinping continues to mount a strong commercial offensive in Latin America, while Trump regards China as his chief global adversary —a political factor not lost on Milei.

In this context, Trump appointed Bessent as his point man with the Argentine government in anticipation of a potential economic and financial shock stemming from the lack of reserves to cover debt payments due in the final quarter of 2025 and the first half of 2026.