Argentine President Javier Milei expressed his hope that Cuba and Venezuela will soon experience the "American Dream" championed by Donald Trump.
His remarks were delivered during a speech at the 29th Global Conference of the Milken Institute, held in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, where he addressed business leaders and financial executives.
"Today, the American Dream stretches from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, aiming to make all of America great once more. We hope this dream will soon reach our beloved Cuba and Venezuela, which have suffered greatly, allowing the model of freedom to reach the last refuge of the continent," Milei stated.
The Argentine leader was the inaugural speaker at the new Center for the American Dream of the institute, introduced by the forum's founder, Michael Milken.
Milken praised Milei: "When deciding who would be the first speaker at the opening of the Center for the American Dream, the choice was clear: President Milei. If he succeeds, he could transform all of Latin America," said the entrepreneur.
During his address, Milei also commented on the Havana regime, highlighting that Cuba has been without freedom for 67 years.
Milei argued that the American Dream "is not dead" and is "being revived in two places simultaneously": in the United States with Trump and in Argentina under his own administration.
"Once more, I invite you to invest in Argentina; not to replace the American Dream, but to make it even greater, to spread it across the Earth," the president emphasized.
These statements come amid heightened pressure from Washington on Havana. On May 1st, Trump signed a new executive order imposing sanctions against the Cuban dictatorship, which includes secondary measures against foreign banks and companies operating with Cuban entities in strategic sectors.
On the same day, Trump stated in a private dinner in Florida that the United States would "take control" of Cuba "almost immediately," describing a scenario involving the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln off the island's coast to force the regime's surrender.
Miguel Díaz-Canel responded on May 2nd by labeling the threats as "dangerous and unprecedented" while appealing to the international community, asserting that no aggressor will find surrender in Cuba.
Milei has consistently opposed the Havana regime. Following the July 11, 2021 protests, he recorded a video in support of Cubans, using explicit terms to describe Díaz-Canel's government and pledging to visit the island if the dictatorship fell.
Upon taking office in December 2023, he explicitly excluded Díaz-Canel from his inauguration and did not appoint ambassadors to Cuba, Venezuela, or Nicaragua.
The Impact of Trump's Policies on Cuba and Venezuela
What does Milei mean by the "American Dream" for Cuba and Venezuela?
Milei envisions the "American Dream" as a model of freedom and prosperity extending to Cuba and Venezuela, countries he believes have suffered under their current regimes.
How has Trump increased pressure on the Cuban government?
Trump has intensified pressure on Cuba by signing executive orders that impose sanctions against the Cuban dictatorship and target foreign banks and companies engaging with Cuban entities in strategic areas.
What has been Díaz-Canel's response to the threats from the United States?
Díaz-Canel has denounced the threats as "dangerous and unprecedented" and has appealed to the international community, stating that no aggressor will find surrender in Cuba.