Argentine President Javier Milei has pointed to Cuba, Venezuela, and his own country as prime examples of the economic devastation wrought by socialism. He made these remarks during a speech at the Official Gala for Hispanic Heritage Month in Washington.
A segment of his speech was shared on Milei Media's account on X.
"A country capable of feeding 500 million people has a significant number of destitute citizens. Look at the disasters socialism can cause: Cuba, a nation that lacks sugar; Venezuela, a country without oil; Argentina, where food was scarce," he declared.
Milei also called on Latin American leaders to build "a true shield against socialism" alongside Donald Trump.
His comments on Cuba are not without foundation: once the world's leading sugar producer, the country now faces an industrial collapse due to Fidel Castro's failed policies. The 2024-2025 Cuban sugar harvest yielded under 150,000 tons, with only six out of 14 mills operational.
Within the same address, Milei presented statistics from his administration as proof that Argentina has managed to reverse this trend. He noted that indigence dropped from 20% to 6%, and child poverty declined from 70% to 40%, though he conceded that "the numbers remain high."
"In just two and a half years, or 30 months, we are repairing the damage of a century, and that indeed qualifies as a miracle," he asserted.
The Argentine president frequently refers to the Cuban case in public speeches. During the 81st General Assembly of the United Nations on September 23, he demanded an end to the Castro regime with unequivocal words: "Cuba must be free, and this bloody dictatorship must end."
In August, speaking before the Council of the Americas in Buenos Aires, he expressed confidence in "the Argentinians who do not wish to return to the past and do not want to become Cuba."
On the diplomatic front, Argentina has not appointed ambassadors to Cuba, Venezuela, or Nicaragua since Milei took office in December 2023. In October 2025, the country voted against the annual UN resolution calling for an end to the U.S. embargo on the island.
Understanding the Impact of Socialism in Latin America
How has socialism affected Cuba's sugar production?
Cuba, once the world's largest sugar producer, now struggles with a significant decline in production due to unsuccessful policies initiated by Fidel Castro. The 2024-2025 harvest produced less than 150,000 tons of sugar.
What changes has Javier Milei claimed to achieve in Argentina?
Javier Milei claims that under his leadership, indigence in Argentina decreased from 20% to 6%, and child poverty went down from 70% to 40%, although he acknowledges that these figures are still too high.