Netanyahu and Milei discussed expanding cooperation between Israel and Argentina at the UN, while poverty increased in the South American country

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Argentine President Javier Milei in New York on Thursday, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation and expanding the partnership in the areas of security and the economy in Latin America.

The Israeli prime minister’s office said Netanyahu thanked Milei for his “steadfast and unconditional” support for Israel and congratulated him on receiving the “Defender of Israel” distinction. Netanyahu described the economic changes promoted by Milei as “masterful” and said that a strategic shift favorable to Israel was taking place in Latin America.

The talks also addressed the possibility of expanding the “Isaac Accords,” an initiative associated with Milei to deepen cooperation between Israel and Latin American countries. The two leaders expressed their appreciation for each other, with Milei calling Netanyahu one of the greatest leaders in history.

The meeting took place on the same day that Argentina’s statistics institute announced that the poverty rate had risen to 32.3% in the first half of 2026, from 28.2% in the second half of 2025. Extreme poverty increased from 6.3% to 7.5%, while 44.5% of children up to the age of 14 were considered poor.