Article

Diplomacia presidencial y política exterior: los gobiernos de Milei y Lula en Argentina y Brasil

Tanto Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva en Brasil como Javier Milei en Argentina proponen una reorientación de la política exterior de sus países.

Date Published
12 Apr 2026
Authors
Alejandro Frenkel Alberto Maresca
Journal
Revista Relaciones Internacionales, 99, 1, Revista
External link

Tanto Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva en Brasil como Javier Milei en Argentina proponen una reorientación de la política exterior de sus países, aunque con visiones y objetivos marcadamente distintos. Utilizando un enfoque comparado, el artículo analiza el uso de la diplomacia presidencial en tanto expresión de las preferencias de política exterior de cada gobierno, tomando como unidad de análisis los viajes presidenciales entre 2023 y 2024. Argumentamos que Lula apuesta por restablecer los vínculos con el sur global y por la configuración de un orden multipolar, mediante una activa diplomacia presidencial. Milei, en cambio, sostiene una preferencia geopolítica favorable a la preeminencia de Estados Unidos y orientada al norte global. Asimismo, en un escenario de auge de líderes populistas de extrema derecha, el artículo aporta el concepto de diplomacia “paragubernamental” para explicar el tipo de actividad internacional que caracteriza a Milei, que prioriza las acciones partidarias y los encuentros con actores del sector privado, por sobre las relaciones entre gobiernos.

Both Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brazil and Javier Milei in Argentina propose a reorientation of international strategy, although with markedly different visions and objectives. We use a comparative approach and a methodology with qualitative and quantitative indicators, focusing on the use of presidential diplomacy to analyze the foreign policy preferences of both presidents. We argue that Lula is committed to reestablishing ties with the Global South and shaping a multipolar world through active presidential diplomacy. Milei’s foreign policy, on the other hand, is characterized by a folding to the United States hegemony and a lack of interest in Latin American integration. It is also distinguished by the use of a type of diplomacy that we call “para-governmental.” That is, a diplomacy that prioritizes partisan actions and meetings with private sector actors without abandoning the President’s role, instead of governmental-level relations.

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