Argentine President Javier Milei delivered a scathing critique of the United Nations during his address to the 80th General Assembly on September 24, accusing the organisation of "overreach" while calling for fundamental reforms to restore its original peacekeeping mission.

Speaking to a barely half-full assembly hall in New York, Milei condemned what he described as a "supranational model of governance led by international bureaucrats, who seek to impose a particular way of life on the citizens of the world." The Argentine leader argued that the UN has strayed from its founding principles of mediating peace among equals.

In his 15-minute speech, Milei proposed four reform principles: focusing resources exclusively on international peace and security, intervening only when nations cannot act independently, demanding institutional efficiency with verifiable results, and simplifying existing regulations.

The right-wing president repeatedly lavished praise on his US counterpart Donald Trump, describing their shared approach to tackling what he called the world's tendency to ignore future consequences for present comfort. "We come from a future that, for you, has not yet arrived," Milei warned fellow leaders.

He also reiterated Argentina's sovereignty claims over the Malvinas Islands (Falklands) and called for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza and a Venezuelan-held security officer, Nahuel Gallo. This sentiment echoes his long-standing strong pro-Israel stance, with Argentina previously rejecting the UN General Assembly's "New York Declaration" supporting a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, standing among just ten nations voting against the resolution that passed 142-10 with 12 abstentions.

This confrontational stance at the UN reflects Milei's broader ideological challenge to multilateral institutions, aligning with Trump's sceptical approach to international organisations. However, such rhetoric may limit Argentina's ability to leverage international support for its ongoing economic stabilisation efforts, particularly when dealing with trade partners opposed to the current US international stance.

Milei has scored a win with a potential $20bn US currency swap arrangement, as Washington gears up to deploy various financial instruments to support Argentina's beleaguered economy. But Argentina's creditors are not limited to the United States. On top of private bondholders and Western-based global lenders such as the IMF, the country holds a $18bn currency swap arrangement with China's central bank, of which $5bn remains outstanding from the former Peronist government.

As the self-styled "anarcho-libertarian" leader continues to challenge global governance structures, his administration must navigate the practical reality that Argentina's economic future remains tied to the multilateral system he seeks to reform.