ICYMI: Rubio Praises Argentina for Resisting BRICS | Senator Rubio

Argentina Leads the Way in Resisting BRICS

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)

January 15, 2024

RealClear World

When the people of Argentina elected conservative candidate Javier Milei as their next president, pundits speculated that he would default on his campaign promises. But Milei deserves praise for already fulfilling one of his most important guarantees: keeping Argentina out of the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) trade group….

Now effectively controlled by Beijing, BRICS's members pool foreign currency reserves and lend billions in easy money to pit developing nations against the United States and other Western countries. These measures are allowing China to bankroll Russia's campaign of death and destruction in Ukraine, despite punishing sanctions on Moscow.

Nor is that all. As of New Year's Day, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Iran…have swelled BRICS's ranks…. If current trends continue, it will become harder and harder for the United States to prevent international violence and oppression through sanctions.

This is why, Republicans and Democrats alike, we should breathe a sigh of relief for [Argentine] President Milei's decision [to keep Argentina out of BRICS]….

Last year, I urged President Biden to support his recently elected counterpart in Argentina by encouraging the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to restructure Buenos Aires's debt…. I also urged the President to partner with Milei in restricting the influence of Russia, China, and Iran—as well the regional dictatorships of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua—in our hemisphere.

Those are recommendations I stand by. Milei is taking the right steps to be a friend to the United States. The Biden Administration would do well to reciprocate that, because friends are few and far between these days….

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