International

Macri and Bullrich’s party rules out merging with President Milei’s

Republican Proposal (PRO), the Argentine conservative political party of former Argentine governor Mauricio Macri (2015-2019) and the current Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich, has ruled out merging with La Libertad Avanza, the far-right formation of the current president, Javier Milei.

The leadership of the PRO, in a party assembly held this Thursday in the midst of intense debates, decided not to merge with the libertarians. The main reason for this decision was to maintain the identity and principles of the party without diluting itself into an alliance that could compromise its fundamental values.

“The ninety percent voted for a renewal, a different leadership style that keeps the PRO as an independent party that will support this Government,” Deputy Martín Yeza, president of the assembly, told the press today.

The decision not to merge with the libertarians implies that the PRO will have to rethink its electoral strategy. Without the alliance with Milei, the party needs to consolidate its base and define its platform for the next legislative elections, which will take place in 2025 and in which half of the Chamber of Deputies and a third of the Senate will be renewed.

In an unexpected turn in Argentine politics, the Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich, decided to break with Mauricio Macri, marking a deep fracture within the PRO.

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Bullrich announced his political separation from former President Macri in the midst of growing tensions and strategic differences over the direction of the party.

To which Deputy Martín Yeza replied: “I am surprised that Bullrich and his team say that the PRO is a small and loser party; that is not done.”

The rupture has generated internal tensions in the PRO blocs in Congress. Deputies and senators of the party are now divided between loyal to Bullrich and followers of Macri. This subdivision could hinder the legislative cohesion and effectiveness of the PRO, affecting its ability to present a united front in the face of the next elections and important parliamentary decisions.

Patricia Bullrich has shown herself to be in favor of a strong and determined leadership, moving away from what she considers Macri’s “indecision”. For his part, the former president has not yet publicly commented on the rupture, although close sources cited by the Argentine media indicate that he is evaluating his position and next steps within the political scene.

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International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

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Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”

International

Mexico security chief meets DEA director in Washington to boost anti-drug cooperation

Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, met in Washington with the head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Terrance Cole, to discuss cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and illegal arms flows.

The Mexican official said Monday on social media that he attended the meeting in representation of the Mexican government’s Security Cabinet.

“In Washington, D.C., I represented the Security Cabinet to hold talks with DEA Director Terrance Cole on the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation to combat drug trafficking, curb the flow of weapons into our country, and reduce violence in Mexico through significant arrests,” García Harfuch wrote.

He added that, following instructions from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, the government will continue strengthening international cooperation on security matters.

For his part, Cole said the meeting focused on cross-border collaboration to tackle drug trafficking and to build safer communities on both sides of the border.

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The meeting comes as Mexico and the United States begin a new round of dialogue on economic and security issues.

Earlier Monday, President Claudia Sheinbaum said she will look for the “best moment” to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, adding that maintaining a good relationship with Washington is a priority for her administration.

International

Venezuela’s foreign minister accuses UN rights chief of “immoral bias”

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil criticized the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, accusing him of having an “immoral bias” and acting as an “echo chamber for falsehoods” regarding the situation in Venezuela.

Gil’s remarks came after Türk stated that his office had not received an official list from Venezuelan authorities detailing the release of political prisoners, nor authorization to carry out visits related to the issue.

“The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights insists on a narrative biased against our country, repeating unfounded accusations while deliberately omitting the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the rights of the Venezuelan people,” Gil said in a message posted on his Telegram channel.

Without directly addressing the question of prisoner releases, the Venezuelan foreign minister also accused Türk of aligning with what he described as the “agenda of extremism in Venezuela.”

Gil added that, despite serious human rights violations occurring in other parts of the world, the UN official has chosen to maintain what he described as an “immoral bias” against Venezuela.

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The criticism is part of a broader dispute between the Venezuelan government and the UN human rights office over reports and investigations concerning the human rights situation in the country.