logo
Argentina's Milei insults Spanish PM Sanchez again

Argentina's Milei insults Spanish PM Sanchez again

Straits Timesa day ago

Argentine's President Javier Milei delivers a speech at the Madrid Economic Forum, in Madrid, Spain, June 8, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
MADRID - Argentina's President Javier Milei insulted Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at an event in Madrid, a year after a similar attack escalated into a diplomatic spat.
At the Madrid Economic Forum event on Sunday evening, Milei called for "clobbering the local bandit", referring to Sanchez without naming him directly.
Sanchez's office declined to comment on the incident.
Elected in late 2023, Milei, a libertarian and former TV pundit, has often taken maverick positions and made theatrical gestures, such as smashing a pinata of the central bank on live TV.
In May 2024, Milei called Sanchez's wife Begona Gomez "corrupt" at another event in Madrid. The comment led to a diplomatic spat, with the Spanish government withdrawing its ambassador from Buenos Aires for several months when Milei refused to apologise.
Milei subsequently doubled down calling Sanchez "arrogant", "totalitarian" and a "coward", although Argentina kept its ambassador in Madrid.
Gomez is under preliminary investigation for possible influence peddling and corruption. She and her husband have denied any wrongdoing. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Yemen missile launched toward Israel 'most likely' intercepted, military says
Yemen missile launched toward Israel 'most likely' intercepted, military says

Straits Times

time31 minutes ago

  • Straits Times

Yemen missile launched toward Israel 'most likely' intercepted, military says

Yemen missile launched toward Israel 'most likely' intercepted, military says CAIRO - The Israeli military said on Tuesday that a missile launched from Yemen toward Israel had "most likely" been intercepted, hours after Israel deployed its navy to hit targets in the Yemeni Red Sea port of Hodeidah. Israel threatened Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement - which has been attacking Israel in what it says is solidarity with Gaza - with a naval and air blockade if its attacks on Israel persist. "Additional interceptors were launched due to the possibility of falling shrapnel from the interception," the military said in a later statement after sirens sounded in several areas. Since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis, who control most of Yemen, have been firing at Israel and at shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade. Most of the dozens of missiles and drones they have launched have been intercepted or fallen short. Israel has carried out a series of retaliatory strikes. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

China's vice-president visits Spain as mutual courtship blossoms
China's vice-president visits Spain as mutual courtship blossoms

Straits Times

time41 minutes ago

  • Straits Times

China's vice-president visits Spain as mutual courtship blossoms

MADRID - China's Vice-President Han Zheng arrived in Spain on June 10 for a four-day trip during which he will meet with King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, a further sign of increasingly close economic and political ties. Mr Han's visit is taking place two months after Mr Sanchez visited Beijing for the third time in as many years. There, he sought to woo China's President Xi Jinping as global trade reels from US President Donald Trump's tariffs policy. The Socialist premier has been vying to position Madrid as an interlocutor between China and the European Union, as well as to attract more Chinese investment in advanced technology such as batteries, electric vehicles and hydrogen. In 2024, auto maker Stellantis and Chinese battery maker CATL announced plans to build one of Europe's largest EV battery factories in Spain. However, not all is idyllic in Spain's relations with China. Beijing's anti-dumping inquiry into EU pork launched in 2024 in retaliation for Brussels' tariffs on Chinese EVs hit Spain, a top exporter, hard. Mr Sanchez's last visit to China, however, clinched expanded access for Spanish exports of pork stomach - a product widely consumed in China but not previously authorised. Mr Han will meet Mr Sanchez on the morning of June 11 in Madrid, Mr Sanchez's office said, while King Felipe will receive the Chinese official on June 12, according to the royal household's agenda. The Spanish monarch is also scheduled to visit China later this year to commemorate the signing of a strategic partnership 20 years ago. After his meetings with Mr Sanchez and Spain's King, Mr Han is set to travel to Seville to meet Andalusia's regional leader, Mr Juan Manuel Moreno, who in 2024 secured over €2.5 billion (S$3.6 billion) of Chinese investments in the southern Spanish region. According to projections by tourism lobby Turespana, the number of visitors to Spain from China is expected to surge by 36 per cent this summer compared to 2024, making Spain the European destination with the biggest growth in tourists from the Asian nation. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Finland suspects Russian aircraft violated airspace
Finland suspects Russian aircraft violated airspace

Straits Times

timean hour ago

  • Straits Times

Finland suspects Russian aircraft violated airspace

Finland, which joined Nato in 2023 following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has a 1,340km-long border with Russia. PHOTO: REUTERS HELSINKI - Finland's defence ministry said on June 10 it suspected a Russian military aircraft of violating its airspace. The incident, off the coast of Porvoo east of the capital Helsinki, came weeks after Finnish officials summoned the Russian ambassador over a similar accusation. Finland, which joined Nato in 2023 following Moscow's fully-fledged invasion of Ukraine, has a 1,340km-long border with Russia. 'An investigation into the alleged violation of airspace was launched immediately,' Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said of the latest incident, adding that the coast guard would head the inquiry. Moscow has repeatedly warned Finland of possible repercussions over its decision to join Nato, and tension has been rising. Mr Hakkanen told AFP in mid-May that Finland was 'closely monitoring and assessing Russia's activities and intentions'. He was commenting after the New York Times published satellite images appearing to show an expansion of Russian military infrastructure near the border. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store