Argentina’s Milei prepares for IMF G7 meeting after greeting Biden

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina’s right-wing president Javier Milei He will meet the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday on the sidelines of the G7 summit, the most important international forum in which he has participated since taking office in December.

Milei will meet with IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva, a day after the fund approved the eighth review of Argentina’s $44 billion Extended Financing Facility agreement, paving the way for the country to could draw down $800 million to help stimulate its economic recovery.

Milei, a pro-market economist and former TV pundit, is fighting to emerge from a major economic crisis he inherited when he took office in December.

Milei also briefly met US President Joe Biden for the first time since taking office and embraced fellow countryman Pope Francis, with whom he has previously clashed.

Milei is also expected to meet French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is hosting the summit, as well as World Bank President Ajay Banga.

Although not on his official agenda, Milei could potentially meet left-wing Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, an important business partner whom the Argentine head of state has repeatedly criticized.

(Reporting by Lucila Sigal, writing by Stéphanie Hamel, editing by Angus MacSwan)