PM Netanyahu congratulates ‘dear friend Milei’ for victory in Argentine midterm elections

Argentina’s President Javier Milei led his party to a surprisingly clear victory in the country’s midterm elections on Sunday, with his party La Libertad Avanza winning almost 41% of the vote, capturing 13 of 24 contested Senate seats and 64 of the 127 lower-house seats.

The elections were seen as a critical test of popular support for Milei’s controversial “chainsaw-style” economic program, which included cuts to many government ministries and services.

Milei received warm congratulations from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, two of his most vocal allies on the world stage.

“My dear friend President Javier Milei, Sara and I, and the State of Israel send you and the people of Argentina warmest congratulations on your extraordinary victory in yesterday's elections,” Netanyahu wrote on 𝕏.

Prime Minister Netanyahu:

My dear friend President @JMilei,

Sara and I, and the State of Israel send you and the people of Argentina warmest congratulations on your extraordinary victory in yesterday's elections.

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 27, 2025

“True leaders defy the odds in pursuit of a great cause. We have a saying in our brave military: who dares – wins. You dared, you won,” he added.

Trump posted on Truth Social, “Congratulations to President Javier Milei on his Landslide Victory in Argentina. He is doing a wonderful job! Our confidence in him was justified by the People of Argentina.”

Ahead of the vote, Trump said that a $40 billion U.S. bailout for Argentina could depend on Milei’s election performance. “If he doesn’t win, we’re gone,” Trump said. “If he loses, we are not going to be generous with Argentina.”

Despite a feared backlash over what Milei’s critics portrayed as foreign meddling, the president’s party won decisively, allowing him to continue his controversial reforms.

BREAKING:

Huge electoral victory for Javier Milei in the midterm elections.

His party won 41% of the votes and will increase its number of deputies in the parliament from 37 to 101 while the number of senators will increase from 6 to 20. pic.twitter.com/xzElWGSK1P

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 27, 2025

“Today we reached a turning point, today begins the construction of a great Argentina,” he told his supporters at a victory party.

“We must consolidate the path of reform we have embarked upon to turn Argentina's history around once and for all… to make Argentina great again,” Milei said.

U.S. Secretary of State, Scott Bessent, also sent his congratulations, adding, “We look forward to continued steps toward economic freedom that will attract private sector investment and job creators, bringing prosperity to the Argentine people. Under President Trump's leadership, the relationship between the United States and Argentina has never been stronger.”

Milei has been a staunch and vocal supporter of Israel throughout the two years of war against Hamas.

In June, Milei visited Israel and, in an address at the Knesset, vowed to move his country’s embassy to Jerusalem in 2026.

Netanyahu had intended to return the favor and visit Argentina after traveling to the U.S. for the UN General Assembly in September. However, due to the upcoming parliamentary elections, Milei reportedly asked him to postpone the visit, fearing his political opponents could use the visit against him.

After meeting on the sidelines of the UN summit, Netanyahu’s office had stated, he “expressed deep appreciation to President Milei, a true friend of the State of Israel and the Jewish people, who stands firm against the systematic bias directed at Israel at the UN and other international forums.”

At the time, polls showed that Milei was expected to lose large parts of his support in the elections; however, his victory on Sunday will grant him critical momentum to complete his reform drive in the remaining two years of his term in office.