Argentine President Javier Milei has sharply criticised the United Nations, describing the organisation as “useless” and accusing its officials of failing to deliver on its responsibilities during his address to the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.
Milei said the UN had failed to adequately protect collective security and human rights, arguing that its shortcomings had contributed to what he described as growing chaos, violence and international terrorism.
He went further by accusing the organisation of being dominated by what he called “arrogant parasites” operating under the appearance of well-intentioned bureaucracy.
The Argentine president also used his speech to renew his country’s long-standing claim to the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas. Argentina and the United Kingdom have disputed sovereignty over the islands for decades, with the two countries going to war over the territory in 1982.
Milei criticised what he sees as the international community’s failure to make progress on the dispute and accused the UN of ignoring Argentina’s position. He called on Britain to resume negotiations over the sovereignty issue.
Argentina’s government has stepped up its campaign over the islands in recent weeks, particularly amid disputes surrounding oil exploration and other activities in waters near the territory. The government has also announced legal and regulatory measures targeting companies it says are involved in hydrocarbon activities without Argentina’s authorisation.
Milei said Argentina would pursue what his government describes as a peaceful approach to the dispute, while warning that the country would not simply wait for international institutions to act.
His criticism of the UN came as Argentina and the United States announced a new infrastructure initiative aimed at strengthening connections between Argentina’s transport and digital networks, mineral and energy sectors, Atlantic ports and Western markets.
The proposed Andes-Atlantic Corridor is expected to focus on areas including transport, digital infrastructure, minerals and energy, including development linked to Argentina’s Vaca Muerta hydrocarbon region.
Milei’s UN appearance therefore combined a broad attack on international institutions with renewed pressure over the Malvinas dispute and closer economic cooperation with the United States.