Argentina's President Javier Milei is working to establish an international ideological forum to combat what he calls a crumbling "global hegemony" of left-wing politics, according to Argentine newspaper Perfil.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, the libertarian leader declared that the dominance of "'woke' left" politics in institutions ranging from education to supranational organisations "has begun to crumble". He cited allies including tech billionaire Elon Musk, Hungary's Viktor Orban, El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu in what he termed a growing "international alliance" of nations promoting free-market ideals.

The self-styled “anarcho-libertarian” leader also recently shared social media posts by controversial right-wing pundits who claimed global warming is a “dishonest scam” and that scientific records show no evidence of a climate crisis.

The proposed coalition, first floated last month during a gathering in Rome organised by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party, would unite countries that share Milei's opposition to the UN's 2030 Agenda.

For now, Argentina will remain in the UN, but Milei's administration plans to pull out from several multilateral organisations – echoing the approach of US President Donald Trump. The withdrawals may include the World Health Organisation, the Paris Climate Agreement and South American trade bloc Mercosur. Milei, who attended Trump's inauguration on January 20, has positioned himself as a key ally of the returning US president. While the proposed forum could establish Argentina as a leader in international right-wing politics, analysts warn it risks alienating key trading partners such as China and Brazil and could isolate the country from moderate governments.

At home, Milei's "chainsaw" reform programme is expanding to target decentralised state bodies. The government has identified several institutions for possible dissolution, including technology and agricultural research bodies. However, SENASA, which handles crucial export certifications, will be preserved after business groups raised concerns.

The administration has also begun discussions with CGT union representatives about modifying worker life insurance policies. The union warned that it would "defend workers' rights" and signalled possible legal challenges from insurers.

Since taking office in 2023, Milei has implemented sweeping austerity measures and cuts to public spending. While inflation has fallen from 289.4 per cent last April to 117.8 per cent in December 2024, critics say poverty has risen during his tenure. This, however, does not appear to have dented his popularity, as his support rose last November to 47% from 43% in October, according to a LatAm Pulse survey.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has praised Milei's fiscal adjustment as “the most impressive case in recent history.” But with poverty reaching 53% in the first half of 2024 and indigence at 18.1%, even the fund stressed the importance of social acceptance for sustained reforms. Yet the state has frozen pensions, curbed aid to soup kitchens, cut welfare programmes and stopped all public works projects.

These controversial reforms go in tandem with Milei's broader agenda to remove concepts such as "positive discrimination" and femicide from criminal law.

During the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro last October, Argentine delegates refused to sign a statement on female empowerment that had unanimous support from all other members, including Saudi Arabia, forcing Brazil to issue a separate chair statement noting Argentina's dissent.